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PT Semen Andalas Indonesia, a subsidiary of French
cement-maker Lafarge, inaugurated its new cement packing unit and port
terminal Thursday in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar regency, Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam province.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Industry Minister Fahmi
Idris, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, Investment Coordinating Board
chairman M. Lutfi, the co-president of Lafarge's cement business,
Guillaume Roux, and the president director of Lafarge Cement Indonesia,
Marcel Cobuz.
"As part of post-tsunami recovery efforts, Lafarge has invested US$17
million on building this modern packing unit and its port facility,"
said Cobuz.
The new unit is equipped with two rotary packing machines that are
capable of packing up to 3,000 tons of cement per day.
Lafarge has also started work on the reconstruction and upgrading of
its tsunami-damaged cement plant, including a coal-fired power plant,
in Lhoknga Aceh.
The upgraded facility will allow Semen Andalas to produce 1.6 million
tons of cement annually. The project is expected to be completed in the
second half of 2008.
The total investment of $150 million is being financed from the
reinvestment of the insurance claim, shareholders funds and external
loans.
In addition, Lafarge, together with its partners, has completed the
third phase of a housing project and handed over 63 homes to the
beneficiaries as part of its commitment to providing 274 houses for
about 800 inhabitants in Lamkruet village, one of the areas worst hit
by the devastating tsunami in December, 2004.
The project, which started in the second half of 2005, will be
completed in the second half of the year.
"To date, we have delivered 124 homes and another 93 houses are under
construction out of a total of 274," said Corbuz.
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