INSEE Cement announces 1 million ton grinding capacity expansion at Ruhunu Plant

The INSEE Cement Board (from left): Group CEO Aidan Lynam, Non-Executive Director General Daya Ratnayake, Chairman Nandana Ekenayake, Non-Executive Director Rizmy Rishard and CEO Gustavo Navarro 

• Addresses growing local demand for cement while supporting company’s rapidly-expanding product portfolio

INSEE Cement, the country’s largest cement manufacturer, announced a state-of-the-art one million ton per annum grinding capacity expansion at its Ruhunu Cement Works (RCW) plant in Galle, investing in strengthening the local economy by increasing domestic production and manufacturing more sustainable construction products for Sri Lanka. 

The investment decision was presented and approved by the company’s Board of Directors, followed by the official announcement by Siam City Cement Group Chief Executive Officer Aidan Lynam during his recent visit to Sri Lanka where he travelled to the RCW Plant to get a first-hand look at local operations. 

INSEE Cement’s Galle plant currently hosts 1.4 million tons of grinding capacity, complemented by the integrated Puttalam plant’s grinding capacity of 1.3 million tons. Both plants have been running at 100% utilisation of grinding resources at maximum capacity since June 2020 to meet growing local demand.

“INSEE Cement aims to sustain its position as one of the country’s leading cement manufacturer, assuring abundant supply of top quality materials for the recovering construction industry,” Group Chief Executive Officer Aidan Lynam commented. 

The newly-proposed grinding station will be installed as a brownfield project at the RCW site in Galle due to its strategic location between the primary western market and growing southern market. It can effectively access adjacent port and ground cargo delivery networks, where the company can leverage the advantage of optimising its operation between the production facility and markets. The project will be aligned with the recently launched Group-wide INSEE Sustainability Ambition 2030, contributing to the company’s ambitious corporate sustainability goals. 

As a leading cement brand in the Sri Lankan market, INSEE Cement products remain well positioned with decades-strong brand equity, reliable quality consistency, and sustainably driven differentiation that enables the brand to retain a loyal consumer base and compete strongly with imported cement brands. INSEE Cement brands are the most preferred and widely recognised brands in Sri Lanka. 

The project is expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of 2023.