MANILA – The Republic Cement group, a joint venture of Ireland-based CRH and local conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures, has announced plans to invest an initial US$300 million for its capacity development activities.
The first phase of these activities, targeted for completion by 2019, focuses on increasing the capacity of all its integrated plants in Luzon and Mindanao, both milling and clinker production.
Several new state-of-the-art mills in these areas will increase cement production capacity by 3 million tons per annum. In addition to new mills, improved process technology will drive increased clinker output from all of its four Luzon plants, equivalent in capacity terms to a new kiln line investment.
A second and concurrent phase of investment is anticipated in 2018 to develop significant new clinker capacity.
With these, Republic Cement seeks to ensure sustainability, as it will employ modern technologies that not only increase energy-efficiency but also improve its environmental performance, in line with the CRH Group’s global sustainability targets. This is in addition to its current extensive use of alternative fuels, including rice husk and municipal waste, across its current manufacturing footprint.
These investments will help ensure a continued supply of cement for the local construction sector in light of the strong demand for commercial and residential spaces and the current administration’s aggressive infrastructure plans.
Republic Cement’s expansion activities are supported by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Board of Investments.
“We welcome investments for the stable supply of construction materials in support of the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ campaign. For contributing to the development of the infrastructure sector that will pave the way towards job creation and domestic growth, we thank Republic Cement, as well as our local manufacturing companies, which have become our partners in advocating inclusive growth,” DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez was quoted saying.
Republic Cement is a leading local cement manufacturing and distribution company in the Philippines with a nationwide footprint. It is backed by the global expertise of CRH, a leading building materials company headquartered in Ireland, and a diversified Filipino conglomerate Aboitiz Group.
