Caribbean Cement to expand production capacity at East Kingston plant

Caribbean Cement Company (CCC) has announced plans to spend US$30 million or approximately J$3.6 billion over the next 15 months to expand production capacity at its East Kingston plant.

General Manager of CCC, Alejandro Vares says nearly half the money will be used to build a new coal mill and bolster other vital areas of the Rockfort plant.

Vares says at the end of the expansion the company expects to boost its cement capacity by 33 per cent from 1.2 million tonnes to 1.8 million tonnes annually.

CCC is the sole manufacturer of cement in Jamaica and estimates that annual consumption on the local market is approximately 800,000 tonnes.

Vares says while the demand for cement continues to grow, the company is also exploring the possibility of exporting to other countries.

Meanwhile, the CCC general manager says the expansion of the Rockfort plant will provide jobs for scores of Jamaicans over the 15-month period.

He has also given an assurance that the work will not affect normal operations at the east Kingston plant.

Vares says most of the work will be done during routine shut down hours.