Andalas stops production

JAKARTA (JP): PT Semen Andalas Indonesia of Banda Aceh ceased operations on Dec. 7 when its power generators caught fire causing the company to lose potential revenues of Rp 900 million (US$125,000) per day.

An executive at Semen Andalas told Antara news agency that the company had thus far lost potential revenues of Rp 46.8 billion.

"The potential losses will increase because the plant cannot yet restart production."

The only cementmaker in the restive province normally produces 3,000 tons of cement a day. It supplied cement primarily within Aceh, at around 25,000 tons per month.

The head of the domestic trade directorate general's Aceh office, Ahmad Hasan, said that since Semen Andalas stopped production, his party and traders in the area have transported cement from outside areas, especially from West Sumatra cementmaker PT Semen Padang and PT Semen Cibinong in West Java. (rid)