Civil Insight: A Technical Magazine Volume 3 | Page 100

Continuing
ing Innovation in the Cement
Manufacturing Industry: Sarbottam Cement
Sarbottam Cement underwent a few important changes the year of 2019. For those of you
readers who thumbed through last year’s Civil Insight, you will likely have read about
Sarbottam’s push towards being more environmentally friendly. Especially through a tree
plantation program that had aimed to grow about 1000 trees in the future. Well, the future is
here, and Sarbottam was successful in this regard.
For the new readers, Sarbottam Cement Limited is a cement and clinker manufacturer based
in Sunwal, Nawalparasi. Sarbottam Cement was established with a vision to provide the
highest quality cement possible for the Nepalese market, and as such, Sarbottam
manufactures its own clinker and sources its own limestone from four mines located across
Nepal — opting for higher quality limestone over the cheaper alternatives situated nearby the
plant. The greatest distinguishing aspect in Sarbottam’s manufacturing process, as compared
to every cement manufacturer currently in operation, is that the entirety of the plant was
imported from Europe. From crushing the limestone to packing the cement, from source to
delivery, Sarbottam Cement utilizes European technology in every step of the way. The
defining feature of this technology is the Vertical Roller Mill (VRM) — as opposed to Ball Mills
used by other manufacturers. In addition to importing European machinery, Sarbottam is the
only cement manufacturer in Nepal that uses an X-Ray Diffraction machine to quickly and
accurately measure key chemical properties of its products. By controlling the quality of the
raw materials and by utilizing the latest advancements in cement production and quality
control, Sarbottam ensures an unrivaled excellency in its cement.
The year 2019 marked the successful expansion of Sarbottam’s clinker production capacity,
with the addition of 1800 tons per day to the previous 1200 tons per day resulting to a
combined 3000 tons per day. This makes Sarbottam one of the largest clinker manufacturers
in Nepal.
Sarbottam also takes limestone mining very seriously. On one hand, Sarbottam deeply cares
about preserving the natural heritage and raw beauty of Nepal’s wilderness. On the other
hand, Sarbottam understands the crucial role of cement in the development of a nation.
Cement is used by small-scale private consumers as well as large-scale construction
companies. Though limestone mining can consume entire hills, it is an inescapable
environmental cost for constructing secure homes and building a stable future. Sarbottam
believes that the only way to justify such a colossal consumption of natural resources is by
producing cement uncompromising in quality and strength, thereby assuring that the razing of
the Nepalese landscape was not for nothing.
The very philosophy is the underlying driving factor for Sarbottam’s existence and continued
operation. As a result, for the first time in Nepal, there exists a cement company that can
match any European construction product or standard, but is made in Nepal, by Nepalis for
Nepalis.
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