Indonesia: PT Semen Indonesia is conducting a feasibility study in Aceh in connection with its plan to build a cement plant in Pidie, Aceh.

"Our partner is ready to build a cement plant in Aceh. We are now in the process of completing the feasibility study. The ground-breaking ceremony is expected to take place in 2016 if all the processes go well," said the company's President Director, Suparni. He noted that around US$257 – 294m will be invested to develop the 3Mt/yr cement plant, excluding the infrastructure cost. He added that the company will set up a joint venture for the project with a local company in which PT Semen Indonesia will later be the majority stockholder, with more than 70%. "It is forecast that the construction will be completed in 2019 - 2020," said Suparni.

The cement plant would target consumers in the eastern parts of Sumatra and North Sumatra, with a possibility of exporting some of its production to Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore. It will also target Bangladesh in view of the country's cement needs, which have so far only been met through imports. "Bangladesh only has one cement plant that cannot fully meet the country's demands. Around 85% of the country's needs are met through imports," said Suparni.

Suparni claimed that the efforts to boost exports will also be made following the completion of Semen Indonesia's 3Mt/yr Indarung VI plant in West Sumatra and a 3Mt/yr plant in Rembang, Central Java, in the third quarter of 2016.