Hongshi-Shivam Cement begins operations

Hongshi-Shivam Cement Pvt Ltd started trial cement production in Nepal last Friday. Satish Kumar More, a director of the company, told Chinese news agency Xinhua that commercial production would start after completing trial production for a week.

A ceremony was held at the project sitein southwestern Nawalparasi district on Friday. Once in full  operation, the Nepal-China joint venture will be largest cement factory to date in Nepal, with production capacity of 6000tpd. China's Hongshi Cement is investing US$359.18m in the new plant and has 70 per cent stake in the company.

Satish Kumar More said that once the factory starts commercial production, it would fulfill the need for quality cement for various infrastructure projects and cement needs of individual households.

The plant will also generate electricity. "We are using diesel plant for power needed to operate the factory initially," said Mr More. Nepal Electricity Authority, the state-owned sole power utility body, has promised to complete the transmission line connecting the factory within the next 14 months, according to company.