The Hetauda Cement Industry, located in Lamsur of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-9, has resumed clinker production after two and a half months. The industry had halted production due to several issues, including a shortage of raw materials like coal, unsold cement, and a lack of funds for repairing broken machinery.
The industry faced difficulties a few months ago due to an inability to sell the cement produced. However, according to Narendra Bhandari, Chairman of Hetauda Cement Industry Limited, there is currently an inventory of about 3,500 sacks of ready cement. Chairman Bhandari said that the industry has resumed operations with a stock of coal sufficient for about 20 days.
Deputy General Manager of Hetauda Cement Industry, Nabin Kumar Karna, explained that after the cement produced by the industry remained unsold, there was a lack of funds to purchase coal. He stated that the industry had recently procured coal. The necessary coal for the industry is supplied through tenders from India, Indonesia, and Bhutan.
Karna also reported that the problems with repairing the industry’s machines, which are over four decades old, have been more challenging than the shortage of raw materials. Cement production has resumed after the industry secured a stock of the necessary coal.
Chairman Bhandari also mentioned that following a visit last week by a team including Federal Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari and Member of Parliament Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, who came to observe the current status of the Hetauda Cement Industry, the government is preparing to allocate a special budget to restart the industry.
The government established the Hetauda Cement Industry in Lamsur, Hetauda-9, in 1976 at a cost of Rs 1.38 billion. The industry began commercial production on December 11, 1986. Over the past five years, the industry has been operating at a loss, mainly due to increased electricity tariffs and a decrease in the market price of cement.
Chairman Bhandari stated that since the machinery and equipment of the industry are four decades old, some of them need to be replaced immediately. To operate competitively, he emphasized the need to replace the old equipment with modern ones.
Chairman Bhandari mentioned that the industry will only be able to operate continuously if the government allocates the necessary funds to compete with private sector cement industries.
It has been reported that by selling the ready cement in stock, salaries and allowances up to mid-July have been provided. Chairman Bhandari mentioned that even when the industry was fully closed, the monthly expenditure on salaries and allowances was around Rs 10 million. At one time, the Hetauda Cement Industry employed around 1,000 workers, but currently, there are about 300 employees, including permanent, temporary, and daily wage workers.
