September 11: Almost all cement factories in Nepal have remained shut for over a month due to the strike in the Terai, where majority of cement factories are located.

“The closure of cement factories has hampered post-earthquake reconstruction and discouraged investors,” says Dhurba Thapa, president of Nepal Cement Manufacturers Association. “Re-construction work has also been stopped,” he adds.

 “As soon as Terai gets stable, we hope that the demand for cement, as well as its production will increase,” says Thapa.

There are 45 cement industries in Nepal but only 3-4 are in operation, he added. Cement factories in Nepal have the capacity to produce 600,000 tonnes of cement per year.  But the market demand is only 400,000-450,000 tonnes, according to association.