THE CONSTRUCTION arm of Consunji-led engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings has invested P900 million in a new state-of-the-art steel fabrication plant in Calaca, Batangas—the first new steel plant built in the country in nearly four decades.
The high-capacity steel fabrication plant near the group’s power plant in Calaca can produce 2,000 to 3,000 tons of fabricated steel per month. The plant has the capacity to fabricate heavy steel sections for power plants and other infrastructure.
The steel plant was built to complement the construction group’s operations. It would supply the requirements of the DMCI group but plans were also underway to secure sales contracts with other industrial and construction companies, DM Consunji Inc. said in a press statement.
“The idea to set up a steel fabrication facility came about in April 2013. We did market and business case studies for a couple of months before breaking ground in November 2014,” said DMCI president Jorge Consunji.
Since it began operations, the facility has generated employment for over 240 people, most of whom are from the province of Batangas.
The last known high-capacity steel fabrication plant in the Philippines was built in the 1980s.
The Philippine government considers the iron and steel industry as a critical component in achieving inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. The industry provides necessary inputs for the construction of infrastructure, power generation and distribution, transportation facilities and vehicles, manufacturing machinery and equipment—all of which are vital for a nation’s long-term growth.
The aspiration of the industry is to be able to produce high-quality and safe steel products for domestic users by 2030.
Aside from gold and copper, the country is also rich in iron ore reserves of almost 300 million metric tons, ensuring a steady output of metals needed to achieve the goals of the industry.
DMCI’s facility uses machine tool technology from Peddinghaus Corp. and Voortman Steel Machinery. Both are globally acknowledged suppliers of innovative machine tool technology for structural steel and plate fabrication, the construction company said.
The Consunji group sources raw materials from South Korea, Japan and China. Doris Dumlao-Abadilla