Ecuador: Holcim expects to increase production capacity at its plant in the capital Guayaquil by 54% by 2012. The company will spend USD120m on expansion work and new machinery to boost cement production to 5.4Mt/yr from 3.5Mt/yr.
The machinery includes a new mill with production capacity of 250t/hr. The company is also building two warehouses for clinker and cement storage. The expansion project is currently 85% complete and will be ready to operate by the start of 2012.
Holcim decided to carry out the project based on the steady growth of public and private infrastructure projects in the country during the last few years, according to administrative manager Giancarlo Muñz. Current demand for cement in Ecuador is around 5Mt/yr, which is supplied by Holcim, Lafarge, Guapá and Cementos Chimborazo.
