The State government is mulling reviving the 50 TPD (tons per day) Wazeho mini cement plant at Wazeho in Phek district.
This was informed by Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NSMDC) chairman Kuputo Shohe during his maiden visit to the cement plant on Tuesday, accompanied by the managing director and other officials of the corporation.
For this, Kuputo said the corporation had already invited outside investors to take hold of the plant in order to revive it. According to NSMDC, the initial 50 TPD cement plant at Wazeho was the first mineral-based project taken up by the corporation during the Sixth Five Year Plan. The plant operated from 1992 to 2003.
Due to the growing demand for cement in Nagaland as well as in the neighbouring States, the Nagaland government decided to expand and modernize the existing 50 TPD plant by adding another 100 TPD capacity at the same location.
The expansion and modernisation of the 150 TPD mini cement plant at Wazeho was completed in May 2008, inaugurated on June 27, 2008 and trial operation started thereafter. Kuputo said NSMDC was in the process of privatising operation on lease basis as per the policy of the government.
Interacting with villagers and NSMDC workers’ union representatives, Kuputo reminded them that the corporation had to earn and help the government, and not the other way round. “Ours should be a revenue generating corporation,” he stressed, while urging the gathering to extend their cooperation to make the mini cement plant one of the biggest income-earning corporations in the State.
Besides having enough workforce, he also pointed out that there was abundance of good quality raw materials at Wazeho, including 3.5 million metric ton mineral deposits, which could produce high quality cement. However, one of primary reasons for the failure of the mini cement plant was lack of proper road.
With regard to production of hollow bricks, Kuputo informed the gathering that the corporation was planning to upgrade the plant and supply bricks at a subsidised rate.
The NSMDC chairman also visited the decorative and dimensional stone plants. He stressed improvising and expediting the process of production. He encouraged the officials and workers of Kiruphema Unit to augment their production and sales in order to generate revenue.
He assured that within three months NSMDC would put all-out effort to activate all plants and start generating revenue.