Cemex earmarks P2.5B to expand Naga plant

CEBU CITY—Anticipating an increase in demand for cement in the country, Cemex Philippines is embarking on a P2.5-billion expansion of Apo Cement Corp.’s  facility in the city of Naga, Cebu.

Normandy Chan, Apo plant director, said the expansion plan would increase the Naga plant’s production capacity by 1.5 million metric tons to 4 million MT yearly.

Cemex is putting up a vertical roller mill, said to be the latest technology in cement making, which is expected to be ready for commissioning in the second quarter of 2014.

Chan said the company decided to expand the plant to meet the rising demand for cement in the country, which was brought about by the strong growth posted by the economy.

“With the rise in demand, comes the need for much improved and innovative infrastructure,” Chan said.

He said Cemex was projecting a 10-percent rise in demand for cement products.

Cemex is currently using two ball mills with total production capacity of 2.5 million tons a year.

In 2012, Cemex produced about 2 million metric tons of cement.

The use of the vertical roller mill technology will result in reduced power consumption, consistent product quality and process simplification, according to Portland Cement Association website (www.cement.org/manufacture/man_vrm.asp).

Chan said Visayas and Mindanao accounted for 85 percent to 90 percent of the company’s market. About 10 to 15 percent of its output goes to Luzon.

For this year, Cemex is expecting to supply 2.2 million metric tons of cement to the market.

Cemex is also working on improving its “green practices.”

“We are continuously looking for innovative and sustainable ways to do our operations. For example, our alternative fuel substitution in Apo has reached 22 percent in a span of only five years,” Chan said.

Cemex is the first and, so far, the only Filipino cement company to be awarded the Green Choice Seal for its environment-friendly practices and facilities.

It has established green operations in Apo Cement plant in Cebu and Solid Cement Corp. facility in Antipolo City, Rizal province.