GHACEM to haul 600,000 tonnes of cement by rail per annum

Accra, April 10, GNA - GHACEM, the largest producer of cement in the country, would haul an estimated 600,000 tonnes of cement annually through the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL). A delegation from GHACEM, including Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, the Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director and Mr. Eric Westerberg, the Commercial Director, made this known at a meeting with the Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi in Accra on Thursday.

The delegation said the transportation of cement by rail would "significantly reduce" the price of the product on the Ghanaian market which is linked by rail. They said GHACEM was willing to collaborate with the GRCL with a view to re-introducing the haulage of cement by rail. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the interest demonstrated by GHACEM was "very encouraging". He empowered a committee comprising officials of the Ministry, the GRCL and GHACEM to hold discussions on how to identify and remove bottlenecks obstructing the haulage of cement by rail.

The committee will also discuss modalities for collaboration between the GRCL and GHACEM on the rehabilitation of the Western line in partnership with other stakeholders. Meanwhile, GHACEM has unveiled a plan to haul an estimated 90,000 tonnes of cement from July to December 2008 using the Western Rail Line from Takoradi to Kumasi.