Nepal: Arghakhanchi Cement, based in Bhairahawa, is set to begin commercial production from 13 December 2014. The plant has a total capacity of 1200t/day of clinker and will employ 600 locals.

Siddhartha Group, Murarka Group and Kediya Group hold large stakes in the cement factory, with a minority stake held by a foreign investor. Rajesh Agrawal, director of Arghakhachi cement, said, "Targeting large-scale construction projects, we will produce OPC."

It has been reported that the plant will operate at 90% capacity utilisation, made possible by the installation of a captive high capacity diesel plant.

Arghakhanchi cement has set up three mines for limestone in Narapani and Khanchikot, both in Arghakhanchi district and Jonchha, Palpa district. According to Murarka, the plant was readied for operation five months ago and is only awaiting Nepal Standards accreditation from the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology before operation can begin.

With cement plants rapidly coming online, Nepalese media reports that the country is steadily becoming self-reliant in terms of cement supply. The total consumption in 2013 was 4Mt but this is expected to rise along with large-scale infrastructure developments in the coming years.