KUCHING, May 17: Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMS) has stepped forward to reassure the market that there will be a sufficient supply of cement effective tomorrow (May 18).
Following a recent outcry by some contractors that an inadequate supply of cement is hindering them from recommencing construction activities, CMS Group Managing Director Datuk Isaac Lugun said adequate supply of cement is being prepared for distribution to the market effective tomorrow and not after Gawai as inferred by some.
“As at May 15, the operations of the Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, CMS Cement Industries Sdn Bhd (CMS Cement) in Sibu was up and running in full compliance with all standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined by the relevant authorities.
“All the company’s other cement production and distribution facilities are being prepared in full compliance with the stringent SOPS set and we anticipate that all our cement manufacturing operations throughout Sarawak will be in full swing by tomorrow.
“Barring unforeseen circumstances, this essentially means that the supply of cement will be made available to local businesses throughout Sarawak effective May 18 and not later as implied,” Isaac said in a statement.
He pointed out that CMS Group realised its responsibility to provide an uninterrupted supply of cement to the state of Sarawak and their business continuity plan mandates that they always have a minimum reserve stock of cement in their silos.
Given that construction activities were not allowed during the Movement Control Order (MCO), he said the stock remains untouched and they are ready to meet the demand for cement once their operations commence.
“CMS Group does not foresee any supply issues moving forward. Currently CMS Cement operates using a system of authorised dealers where it has over 25 dealers servicing its customers throughout the state, ” he said, adding these dealers actually began taking orders from customers earlier last week.
He said CMS Cement advises its customers to place their orders through their respective dealers and to ensure that their dealers in turn place their purchase orders accurately and in a timely manner with the nearest CMS Cement sales office.
The CMS Group operates production and distribution facilities in every major town within Sarawak.
These include two plants in Kuching (Mambong Integrated Plant and Pending Grinding Plant), one plant in Bintulu (Bintulu Grinding Plant), as well as bulk terminals in Sibu and Miri.
Through their strategically located plants and terminals, Issac said the market can rest assured that all of Sarawak’s main centres of economic activity, namely Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, besides the emerging markets of Samalaju, Mukah, Lawas and their hinterlands, will have a stable and sufficient supply of quality bag and bulk cement to meet their needs.
CMS Cement produces the CEM 1 42.5N and 32.5N grades of cement.
Through these products, it provides its customers a range of cement product types that meet general and specific project requirements at different price points.
A third product, the premium grade 52.5N grade (MS EN 197-1 standard) Portland Cement, is produced for export purposes and to meet the needs of projects that have a specific need for a higher-grade cement. – DayakDaily
