Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Hetauda Cement Industry has been demanding regular operation of the cement industry.

As the government prepares to reopen the sick industries, the industry has been facing the fate of closing and opening due to the economic crisis. The Hetauda industry, which has been facing various problems due to the government’s announcement of operating closed industries, should also be run in regular and full capacity.

Lawmaker Prakash Gautam has given priority on how to resume the operation of cement industries. He further said that efforts have been made with the federal and Bagmati state governments for the regular operation of Hetauda Cement Industry by resolving the problems.

“I have talked with the Prime Minister and the Industry Minister regarding how to resume the Hetauda Cement Industry in a regular manner,” Gautam said, adding, “I also held discussions with the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province some days ago about the same. “I have also interacted with the industry employees on this issue and I have received good suggestions from all,” he said.

“There is a possibility that the industry can be run if it becomes service-oriented and salary-only after becoming government rather than commercial,” he said, adding, “There is a possibility of running the industry if political interference in the industry, corruption in the internal sector could be stopped and a new management team could be formed.” “That’s what I’m trying to do, I’m confident that we will get positive results soon,” he said.

According to the industry administration, in the current fiscal year 2082/83, the industry has come into operation only for five days from September 1 to September 9. The industry produced 2,500 tons of clinker and 30,000 sacks of cement in the period, said the industry’s officiating general manager Dr Shiva Narayan Sah.

Though the industry had resumed the clinker production process from March 27, it has stopped again due to lack of raw materials. Acting chief Dr Sah said that the industry will be closed again in a day or two as the coal could not be brought as the tender was called for the purchase of coal last month.

“Clinker is being produced from the raw materials in stock, cement is produced from clinker and packing,” said Acting General Manager Saha, adding, “Production will come to a halt in the next one or two days. He said that due to this, the financial problems in the industry will increase.

“We need at least 120 tons of raw material coal daily if the industry runs on a daily basis,” he said, adding, “But that is not the case and there is no possibility of importing coal immediately as the old payment for coal has not been made.” Apart from this, due to financial problems, the employees have also been able to pay for the work done in overtime.

The factory has 318 employees including 166 permanent, 100 daily wagers and 52 security personnel. Due to financial problems, the electricity authority has not been able to pay the electricity tariff for a long time. “We consumed electricity but could not pay the bill”, he said, adding, “Although we cannot say how much dues are yet to be paid, around Rs 30-400 million is still pending.” Therefore, it is not possible to ask the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to supply electricity regularly, he said.

The factory, established in 2033 BS at Lamsure of Hetauda, had started production of cement in 2043 BS. Technicians say that the equipment is outdated and not in a good state to produce properly.