Thatta Cement CEO predicts Pakistani cement prices will rise

Thatta Cement CEO Muhammad Fazlullah Shariff has been talking to The Express Tribune about the company’s new gas-fired captive power plant and its quest for greater efficiency. Speaking on the recent government price hikes that have divided Pakistani cement producers, Shariff said that the price hike has significantly affected the final cost of cement production. Utilising the captive power plant has saved Thatta from the more than 50% increase in energy prices faced by those sourcing their energy from the national grid.

“Certainly, the cement companies will increase cement prices because no one is doing philanthropy here. With low volumes right now, the industry cannot go for an increase in cement prices. However, with the increase in volumes, the companies will offset the pressure that they are bearing now,” he told the newspaper.

Thatta Cement is expanding its business into Sri Lanka where it is working on the construction of a 100 000 tpa grinding and bagging facility. At home in Pakistan, the company has also been modernising its cement production facility with the latest state-of-the-art technology. More information about this project can be found in the October issue of World Cement, which includes an article from Thatta Cement – ‘Investment in Sri Lanka’. The October issue will be available to subscribers from 26 September and also includes an article from fellow Pakistani success story, Lucky Cement. To subscribe, please click here.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/23092013/thatta_cement_ceo_predicts_price_hikes_in_pakistan_203/