CEMEX has announced plans to expand the production capacity at its Jamaican subsidiary Caribbean Cement Company (CCCL).
The building materials provider says the expansion aims for an up to 30% increase in CCCL’s cement capacity on the Caribbean island, through an investment of approximately US$40m for the first phase of the project.
CEMEX CEO Fernando Gonzalez was in Jamaica to jointly announce the news with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, relevant officials of the Jamaica Government, and key representatives from the company.
“We are in the final stages of the engineering phase and in obtaining permits from the local authorities,” Gonzalez said. “Very soon we will begin to procure the equipment needed for this initial phase of the project, designed to not only expand our capacity, but also allow us to optimise our heat consumption in the manufacturing process, and therefore, reduce the carbon footprint of our cement facility in Jamaica.”
The expansion plan is scheduled to be completed by the second half of 2024, and CEMEX says it is expected to strengthen the self-sufficiency of the national cement industry, while setting the basis to export and reinforce CCCL’s ability to serve the growing construction sector in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
During the same event, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Olivia Grange; the Mexican Ambassador, his Excellency Juan José Gonzalez Mijares; and CEMEX’s CEO also unveiled a mural that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the independence of Jamaica.
Titled “Reignited for Unity”, the mural measures 49ft tall by 167ft wide and commemorate the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence. It depicts a jaguar man presenting his heart to a beautiful singing Jamaican female. The jaguar man is a representation of Mexican aesthetic culture, while the singing woman represents the beauty and spirit of Jamaica’s people and music.
The mural was painted by Mexican artists Irving Cano and Freddie Herrera and Jamaican artists Anthony Smith, Yanque Yip, and Jordan Harrison.
“This project has certainly gifted to Jamaica, Mexico, and the region an amazing example of the genius of our creatives and demonstrates just how powerful the cultural expressions of our two nations have been,” said Minister Grange at the unveiling.
CEMEX says that, with these projects and initiatives, it is confirming its commitment to continue contributing to build a greater Jamaica, betting on the growth opportunities of the construction sector in the country by developing relevant projects such as this expansion plan.
