A new cement factory in Oral district in Kampong Speu province is scheduled to begin production soon, increasing the local market’s cement supply by two million tons. This will bring the total number of cement factories in Cambodia to six.
Chinese company, Conch KT Cement, will invest about $263 million in the factory. The same company is also the investor in a cement factory in Battambang province.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a get-together with garment workers in Kampong Speu province on Saturday that the new factory will help meet the growing demand for cement in Cambodia, particularly in the construction and road infrastructure sectors.
“Kampong Speu province will soon have a new cement factory, which will make it a major supplier of cement for construction throughout Cambodia,” the Prime Minister said.
The country currently has five cement factories with a total production capacity of about 9 million tons annually.
“Cambodia currently produces about 9 million tons of cement per year, but demand is increasing due to the construction of houses, buildings, and roads,” he said.The five cement factories in the Kingdom are Kampot Cement, Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting, Chip Mong Insee, Battambang Conch Cement and Thai Bun Rong.
Four of them are located in Kampot province while Battambang Conch Cement has its factory in Battambang province.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the construction industry was booming, which led to a growing demand for raw materials, including cement.
A favourable domestic scenario, including the resumption of socio-economic activities in the country, coupled with a recovery in global economy boosted exports, construction and real estate sectors.
The local cement production factories would support the prevailing demand, said Puth Chandarith, secretary-general of the Cambodian Cement Manufacturing Association.
“The production of cement would be scaled up once the demand is high from construction projects,” he told Khmer Times.
