Cement plants closed in Nepal for failing to meet standards

According to reports, the Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology (NBSM) has closed two cement plants for manufacturing substandard cement products. Action has been taken against 16 other plants, which failed to acquire the Nepal Standard mark. According to the standard, cement should achieve 16 MPa 3-day strength, 22 MPA 7-day strength and 33 MPa 28-day strength. “During inspection, products of the two factories were found to having far less strengths,” said NBSM Director General Ram Aadhar Sah.

The two plants that have been closed failed to pass an inspection and will have to make adjustments before they are re-tested. The 16 other plants that failed the acquire the NS mark face a ban on production and sales. One website is reporting that, despite the public notice of a ban, the plants will continue to produce and sell cement, leading to fears of poor quality construction in the country.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui