ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: The bidding for the sale of 90 per cent shares of Thatta Cement Company Ltd (TCCL) will be held on September 7, 2002.

According to a press release issued here on Thursday, the Privatization Commission has received eight expressions of interest (EoIs) from the prospective investors.

A pre-bid conference will be held in the Committee Room of the commission on September 4 for responding to the queries of the bidders and for a better understanding of the process and the transaction.

The PC has asked the bidders to submit the earnest money together with the special power of attorney and application form latest by September 5, 2002.

The TCCL was incorporated in 1980 as a limited company under Companies Ordinance 1913 (now Companies Ordinance 1984) and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the State Cement Corporation of Pakistan Limited (SCCP).

The unit is located at 115-km in the north east of Karachi at Makli Ghulamullah Road, District Thatta.

The plant is based on dry technology and has a capacity of 1,000 tons per day production. The entire plant and machinery was imported from Mitsubishi Corporation Japan while the slag-grinding mill has been supplied by HMC.

The plant started commercial production in December 1982 and is fully operative. Its main products include Ordinary Portland Cement, Slag Cement and Sulphate Resisting Cement while Lime Stone, Clay/Shale, Iron Pre, Gypsum and Slag are inputs/raw material.

The unit is located on 236 acres consisting of factory, officer and workers colonies complete with all facilities along with 4,725 acres of mining lease land (quarry).