With the aim of making Paraíba the second largest cement producing state in the country, the formation of the state's Cement Hub was announced in 2014. Composed of six factories, the goal was to quadruple cement production from 2,5 million tons to 10 million tons per year. Two years later, two factories have yet to be built, failing to invest R$1,2 billion in the economy and creating more than 2 jobs.
At the time the hub was formed, two factories were already in operation, in the cities of João Pessoa and Caaporã. In 2014, Elizabeth Cimentos set up a factory in the city of Alhandra, and in 2015, the Ricardo Brennand group's cement factory was opened in the city of Pitimbu. Together, the two factories generated around 2.650 direct and indirect jobs. Among the factories that have not yet been installed is one announced by the Votorantim Cimentos group to be built in the city of Caaporã.
The group's project has a planned investment of R$800 million, with a production capacity of two million tons of cement per year. The unit expects to employ 1.300 people during construction and around 400 during operation, with local labor being prioritized. Although the protocol of intentions was signed in May 2014, according to the company's press office, the construction schedule has not yet been defined, since the group is awaiting the issuance of an environmental license. In a statement, the agency also reported that construction will only begin after a “detailed analysis of market growth”. The company did not say when this will happen.
The other factory whose construction has not started is that of the company InterCement, which planned to invest R$400 million to install it in the city of Conde. According to the company, which did not want to give details about the project, the reason for the construction work not starting at the site is due to the financial crisis facing the country. In a statement, InterCement said that it intends to continue investing in the region. “However, given the most challenging moment in the country, any and all cement expansion projects have been evaluated, within the strategy of capital allocation discipline and adjustment to local demand.”
Infomet – 28/03/2016
