Tonasa gets more profit

JAKARTA (JP): PT Semen Tonasa of South Sulawesi, a subsidiary of the state-owned PT Semen Gresik, reported a 5.4 percent increase in a before-tax profit, to Rp 55 billion (US$23.3 million) in 1996, over the previous year, said an executive.

On Friday, Tonasa's president, Nizar D.T. Kayo said in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, that his company's sales last year rose 35.3 percent, to 2.24 million tons over the previous year.

The sales comprised of 2.16 million tons of cement and 73,112 tons of clinker, he said.

Nizar said that Tonasa, whose cement production rose 48.1 percent to 2.1 million tons in 1996 over the previous year, plans to further increase its output to 3.24 million tons this year.

Out of the total output, 2.9 million tons will be distributed in the eastern provinces of the country and 240,000 tons in Java, while another 100,000 tons will be exported to Singapore.

This year's output will include 275,000 tons of prima-mixed cement, a second-class quality product designed for the construction of low-cost houses, he said.

Therefore, the company will contribute 82.2 percent to the total demand of 3.52 million tons in the eastern provinces, he said.

Tonasa operates three production units with a total annual capacity of 3.48 million tons. (10)