Holcim to invest US $ 20m

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

HOLCIM Sri Lanka will invest up to 20 million USD within next three years to meet the growing market demand for cement in Sri Lanka.

The Managing Dir-ector Holcim Sri Lanka Peter Spirig, speaking to the Daily News Business said that Holcim Sri Lanka can keep up with the pace each year by using the capacity available with them.

He said that company manufactures 1.4 million tons of cement and it will be increased up to 1.8 million tons shortly. “We are increasing the capacity in the peak months and ensuring a steady supply,” he said.

During the expansion period the factory at Palavi, Puttalam and outside factories will increase the capacity by 40-50 per cent.

A new cement terminal in Trincomalee will also become operational.

Spirig said that a grinding station will also be coming up over the next two years and the production will go up to two million tons in two years time.

Asked whether the company could meet an extra demand for cement with the development in the Eastern Province he said that they could supply required cement for the construction of buildings.

Meanwhile at the Holcim Awards competition General Manager Holcim Foundation, Edward Schwarz announced that the second Holcim awards competition to promote sustainable construction worldwide is now open and entries can be submitted until February 2008.

The prize money for the five regional competitions and the global awards totals to USD two million.

“The awards are an initiative of the Swiss based Holcim Foundation, represented Sri Lanka by Holcim Lanka Ltd to encourage and inspire a built environment that goes beyond convention to address the challenges of sustainability.”

The Awards are open to anyone involved with projects in the area of sustainable construction- architects, planners, engineers, or project owners.

The competition also encourages young professionals less than 35 years of age. The ‘Next Generation’ category is open to projects at a conceptual level or early stage of design.