LAHORE, Sept 3: There is a huge potential for cement exports to India as its limestone reserves are expected to exhaust by 2050 in case of routine production and by 2030 in case of enhanced production.

A representative of the Cement Research and Development Institute of Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) stated this during a roundtable conference organised by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants, Pakistan, to discuss the problems of cement industry.

The conference was attended by representatives of cement manufacturers, consultants, technical experts, consumers and quality control personnel.

The representative said Pakistan’s industry was producing high strength cement by hard burning and high fineness at higher cost.

There was a need for low alkali cement for projects like Lowari Tunnel and low-heat hydration cement for Mangla Dam raising project.

Per capita cement production in Pakistan had increased from 75 to 120kg, but it was still far below the 1,780kg per capita consumption of countries like Korea.

The cement industry in Pakistan had secured loans of Rs75 billion for increasing its production capacity from 38 million ton to 49 million ton by 2011.