Bosawa starts production

JAKARTA (JP): PT Semen Bosawa Maros of Maros district, South Sulawesi, started its inaugural production and sales of cement yesterday.

Bosawa Maros, the first private cementmaker in the province, has production capacity of 1.8 tons per annum.

Company president Aksa Makmud told Antara that 70 percent of its output would be exported because of dwindling demand in the domestic market.

He said the company had signed a contract with a Middle Eastern importer to ship 400,000 tons of cement. The first delivery will be early next month.

Indonesia currently enjoys a high surplus of cement after several years' deficit.

Total national cement production is currently 43 million tons per annum. Demand is projected to shrink to about 18 million tons from an average 25 million tons per annum in the last few years. (rid)