Cement Supply Available For Infrastructure Development Projects

Nusa Dua, Bali, June 14 (Antara) - PT Semen Indonesia`s president director Dwi Soetjipto said cement industries across the country could meet the need for cement for infrastructure development projects in the country. "The growth of cement demand in bulk last year reached 22 percent and before it was 33 percent above the growth of cement industries. Generally cement in bulk is used in big projects including infrastructure development projects," he said at a Forum of Chief Editors meeting here on Friday. He said cement supply for infrastructure development projects under the Master Plan for Acceleration and Extension of Economic Development (MP3EI) was sufficient, adding almost all main islands in the country have cement industries. "It is only Papua that has not yet had a cement plant and so has relied on supply from the eastern region. PT Semen Indonesia is currently still seeking efforts to set up a cement plant in Sorong (Papua) and the plan has been responded well by the regional government," he said. Total production of cement in Indonesia at present is expected to increase to 60 million tons this year from 55 million tons last year. "Right now PT Semen Indonesia with its subsidiaries, PT Semen Padang and PT Semen Tonasa, meets 40 percent of the total demand in the country," he said. Although cement consumption per capital is still low compared to that of other countries due to the country`s vast archipelago, Dwi said cement demand would continue to increase. He said PT Semen Indonesia has now grown into a multinational company following its step to expand to Vietnam.