June 6: Data maintained by theDepartment of Mines and Geology shows that the limestone reserves of the country are spread across 7,000 square kilometers of land.

The department estimates that a total of 1.50 billion tons of limestone is in the reserves, while it has already ascertained the presence of 750 million tons of limestone in the country. Clinker – one of the major components of cement – is made from limestone.

Currently, majority of cement industries utilise clinker produced within the country. The department has given license to Hetauda Cement, Udayapur Cement, Cosmos Cement and Bhugarbha Cement to extract limestone from nine mines which were discovered recently.

Meanwhile, Dhurba Thapa, president at Nepal Cement Producers’ Association, said that investment in the clinker industries is under risk due to the lack of international market for the raw material produced in Nepal.

Likewise, Pashupati Murarka, promoter of Argakhachi Cement, said that the production of clinker within the country is overwhelming, but the supply is more than the demand. He further said that there should be further investment in the sector only if there is possibility of export from the country.