Work on cement hub inaugurated.

Work on the Rs. 176-crore cement hub being established by the government-owned Malabar Cements was inaugurated recently by Minister for Industries P. K Kunhalikutty at the Willingdon Island premises of Cochin Port Trust.

The cement company has leased nearly 7 acres of waterfront for establishing the facility for a period of 30 years. Chairman of Cochin Port Trust Paul Antony formally handed over the land to chairman of Malabar Cements P. H. Kurien during the inaugural ceremony.

According to present estimates, the cement and allied materials hub will see a cargo throughput of around 1.35 million tonnes per year.

Besides cement, allied building materials like sand will be imported through the facility. Malabar Cements is already importing clinker through Kochi port.

Work on the hub is expected to be completed in 18 months and once the works are complete, it will augment Kochi’s status as a major cement hub in South India.

Three cement terminals are already in operation at the Kochi port and one more cement terminal is expected to be operational soon.

THE HINDU