Two new plants for Nepal by March 2012

Nepal: Two large cement factories, which are nearing completion in Dudhrash and Gogli in Dang, are preparing to commence production in early 2012. It is expected that the two plants will replace around 10% of the cement imports that currently come from India.

Basu Pandey, director of Sonapur Cement Factory in Dudhrash, said that construction work has almost been completed. "Some technical work is remaining and we hope to finish that within a month," he said, adding that the company will begin test-production by the end of December 2011. "We will be able to launch the product in the market within two months," he added. According to Pandey, Sonapur Cement Factory targets to produce around 700t/day of cement.

Sonapur Cement Factory is launching its products under the brand of 'Sona Cement'. It will manufacture OPC and Portland Pozzolana Cement. Sonapur has invested a total of US$415m on the project.

The other factory, which will brand its products as Ghorahi Cement, is also preparing to bring its products in the market within two months. Bikash Sharma, factory coordinator of Ghorahi Cements, said, "Test production will begin from February 2012 and the final production will start in March 2012."

Ghorahi Cement Factory is targeting to produce 1200t/day. Located in Laxmi in Dang, it plans to double its production in the future. "We will double our daily production to 2400t/day in a year's time," Sharma said, adding that Ghorahi Cement Factory would become the largest cement factory in the country. Both of the factories will use limestone from local mines of Dang and surrounding districts, which are more than 200 years old.