Libyan Cement Co works towards resuming plant operations

The joint owners of the Libyan Cement Company (LCC) are working together to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible at its two cement factories that were heavily damaged last year during fighting in the region, local media have reported.

LCC is owned by the Economic Social Development Fund (ESDF) and the Benghazi-based Libya Holdings. The dominant player in the east of the country, LCC has a 1.5Mta facility in Benghazi and the 0.9Mta Al Fataiah plant in Derna, around 250km to the east.

The two works in Benghazi have been closed since mid-2014 due to the fighting in the Hawari district, making it unsafe for employees to attend work.

A report by the Libyan Express on Monday stated that at a meeting held in April, Dr Khalid Erkhais, general manager of ESDF, joined with Libya Holdings' representative Ahmed Ben Halim to consider management plans for both plants.

“In March/April 2016 the Benghazi cement factories were caught up in the battles between the LNA [Libyan National Army] and militia groups opposing them. Heavy fights between these two groups caused major damages to LCC premises," a statement by the LCC said. The estimated cost of repairing the damage at the factories is in the order of tens of millions of euros, the statement noted.

“Extensive re-building of the assets is necessary. This will take time and the management estimates that one-year will be needed to get back into production.” it added.

A number of hurdles must be overcome to get both plants up and running again: namely, the site must first be made safe, then parts and supplies ordered from overseas, skilled construction workers found and the infrastructure in Benghazi (electricity, gas supply, etc) must be restored.

Emphasising the need to move quickly, the statement noted: “Already orders are being placed and plans for making the site safe are well advanced.” LCC said. “Mr Ben Halim and Dr Erkhais are united in their intention to re-start the business as quickly as possible on the one hand, and emphasised the importance of good planning and steady progress on the other. In other words, it must be well thought out and organised, and mistakes due to excessive haste have to be avoided. The safety of all employees and workers is paramount," the statement concluded.