A Time To Build Caribbean Cement Company Limited Annual ...

PLANT EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION
The Jamaican cement market has had a significant
growth of approximately 5% per year since 1999.
The projection is that this trend will continue
in the medium and long term. Carib Cement is
encouraged and excited by the expected rate
of growth, as this will impact positively on the
Company’s future operations.
Carib Cement is now operating at its maximum
clinker producing capacity. In order to continue
meeting the needs of the Jamaican market, its
planned expansion and modernization programme
are crucial.
Preliminary plans and activities are currently
underway to increase the capacity of the plant
to 1.2 million MT of clinker and 2 million MT of
cement per year by 2008. This expansion and
modernization programme will cost over US$100
million.
The expansion programme will affect every aspect
of the Company’s operations and although centred
on clinker and cement production will require
upgrades in other areas like quarrying, packing and
dispatching.
• The upgrade of the existing Kiln 4. The
existing dust collecting equipment will be
replaced to improve the environmental
performance of this kiln, and to ensure that
local and international emission standards are
met. Some of the main process equipment
on this kiln will also be upgraded to improve
energy efficiency and kiln stability.
• The installation of a new pre-grinding
circuit to operate in conjunction with
Cement Mill # 4. This upgrade will increase
the production of the mill by 200-250%,
using less energy and more in keeping with
world standards. This mill will now be capable
of producing very fine cements with rapid
hardening properties.
• The installation of additional
packers to facilitate packing for export
purposes at the Rockfort plant and the
installation of a remote packing plant to
service bulk and bag customers that are
geographically far from Kingston.
• Additional upgrades to the ancillary plant to
ensure that all areas of the plant can match
the increased production requirements.
The dust collecting and dust abatement
equipment across the plant will also be
upgraded to ensure local and international
environmental performance standards.
Investment in human capital will take place
in tandem with the upgrades. Carib Cement
operates on the belief that the welfare of its
employees forms the basis of the performance
of the Company. Continuous and specialized
training will ensure that the Company’s employees
are adept at functioning in a more competitive
environment.
The Company will continue to focus on its
customer and by 2008 will be offering the highest
levels of service and technical assistance to
customers. With the improvement in technology,
Carib Cement will be able to offer a wider variety
of cement products to the market.
These upgrades will allow Carib Cement to
become more efficient and competitive by 2008,
by which time the Free Trade Area of the Americas
is expected to be a reality. The efficiencies gained
through the expansion programme will translate
into a reduction in the cost of production and allow
the Company to produce at a world-competitive
cost so that it can successfully defend its market in
a globalized environment.
The main aspects of the expansion programme
are:
• The installation of a new dry process,
precalciner kiln system. This kiln will utilize
the most efficient and environmentally friendly
technology to produce clinker at world-class
levels of fuel and power, while meeting local
and international environmental emission
standards. This new system, Kiln 5, will
replace the existing Kiln 3 line.