Fancesa celebrated its 54th anniversary by announcing plans for a new factory, enabling the Bolivian cement makers to produce an additional 2000tpd of clinker, equivalent to 0.86Mta of cement. The US$220m plant would enter service by 2016.

Meanwhile, from March onwards, Fancesa will be producing an extra 1000tpd following the completion of a new clinker line at its Sucre works which will enable a 40 per cent capacity rise. The US$35m investment made so far is financed entirely with equity and represents over 85 per cent of the total project cost. 

The cement industry is under pressure to build new capacity in Bolivia, as double-digit demand growth is pushing up production requirements. It is expected, if no action is taken, the country could face new supply shortages by 2016 despite recent additions to the production base.