Hetauda Cement Factory has suspended operations less than a month after resuming production, citing a shortage of essential raw materials.
After remaining closed for around seven months, the state-owned enterprise had restarted operations on March 27 by producing cement clinkers. However, according to Deputy Manager Bikash Shrestha, production has been halted again since Thursday. He noted that the factory has already issued tenders to procure 3,000 tons of coal, which is expected to arrive within the next two weeks.
The factory had been completely shut down for the previous seven months following disruptions caused by the Gen Z movement on September 8–9.
Hetauda Cement has the capacity to produce 700–800 quintals of cement daily under normal conditions. Following its recent reopening, the factory had aimed to produce up to 600 quintals per day in the initial phase.
Established by the government in 1976 in Lamsure, Hetauda, the factory began cement production in 1986.
