Kathmandu. According to the Hetauda Cement Factory’s management, the cement production has resumed from today after repairing the equipment of the fire furnace which was damaged.

The factory management had to shut down the furnace on March 28 after some equipment of the mill broke down after the production of cement started after a gap of seven months.

Coal was transported to the mill and set on fire last night. The industry has started production of clinker to produce cement powder from today.

Bikash Shrestha, assistant manager of Hetauda Cement Industry Administration Division, said that the industry management has called for tender to purchase the remaining coal.

According to him, the production of cement has been hampered as the industry has to bear the burden of financial crisis to purchase raw materials required for coal. The industry has the capacity to produce cement at 18,000 sacks per day, he said, adding that the industry produces only 11,000 sacks per day due to the dilapidated equipment.

The then government of His Majesty had established Hetauda Cement Industry at Lamsure of Hetauda in 2033 BS. The then King Birendra Bikram Shah had commercially inaugurated the production of cement on December 11, 2043 BS.

The then government had constructed the Hetauda Cement Industry at a cost of Rs 1.50 billion. The cement produced by the industry is supplied to consumers in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Hetauda, Birgunj and other cities.