Iran Begins Pilot Cement Project In Caracas

Tehran, Sept 21, IRNA - Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) announced that Venezuela’s Iran-built cement plant, with a capacity of 1m tons per year, started its pilot production. The plant’s launching ceremony was attended by Iranian Industries, Mines and Trade Minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, the head of IMIDRO’s Board of Directors, Mehdi Karbasian, and a number of Venezuelan officials. IMIDRO began the implementation of the project eight months ago. The plant was launched concurrent with the Eighth Iran-Venezuela Economic Commission meeting in Caracas. The plant, which will officially go on stream in the near future, was established by Ehdas Sanat Company, an IMIDRO affiliate. Speaking in the ceremony, Venezuelan Industries Minister Wilmer Barrientos thanked Iran for resuming the plant’s executive operations. Raúl Pacheco, the Venezuelan vice minister for management and productivity, requested Iran not to change the project’s contractor and allow it to complete the plant. Last week, Nematzadeh travelled to Caracas at the head of a delegation to take part in the commission’s meeting. In this visit, Iranian and Venezuelan industry ministers signed a cooperation document. Another cooperation document was signed by Karbasian and Pacheco to extend the contract of Iran’s Ehdas Sanat Company to complete the project. Addressing the same ceremony, Karbasian said the project is near completion and will become operational in the near future. He added that establishment of a cement plant in Venezuela indicates the capabilities of Iranian experts. Iran has gained valuable experiences in the implementation of cement projects and intends to export techno-engineering services to promote its national and regional credibility. Venezuela has invested €273m in the project./end