Ecuador: The Ecuadorean unit of the Swiss cement multinational, Holcim, has announced that it will begin the second phase of its Guayaquil plant expansion in December 2012. The second phase will require an investment of nearly US$400m and it will see the construction of a third kiln at the plant. This will allow the South American country to sustain its growth in the coming decades, according to the company.
As well as aiming to supply the country's domestic cement needs, the investment will generate about 2500 direct and indirect jobs in the country during the construction phase, which will last approximately 24 months. The first phase of the expansion in early 2010, an investment of US$120m, will be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2012. Completion of the project will see Holcim Ecuador's cement capacity jump from 3.5Mt/yr to 5.4Mt/yr.