Diamond Cement to improve port facilities

Among improvements will be U.S. $100 million jetty at the Alfao coast in Ghana.[$]

{reg}[PAID={"id":"1,2,3,4,5","title":"The content you tried to access is only available to paid subscribers.","link":"1"}] In a move that will aid Diamond Cement Ghana Limited (DCGL) receive its raw materials, especially from the Far East, closer to its cement production plant,┬á the building of a jetty at Alfao beach is planned. Feasibility studies are ÔÇ£at an advanced stageÔÇØ as reported by PeaceFMonline, after a survey for a suitable location had been done.

General Manager of DCGL, Chitti Babu, is reported to have also announced negotiations with the government of Ghana for permission to rebuild a five mile stretch of road which links the cement plant with the main road. PeaceFMOnline reports that Babu believes these measures are necessary for the plant to continue to be competitive and profitable in the market.

DCGL has an annual output of 1.5 million tons. There are 400 full time workers and 1,000 ÔÇ£casualÔÇØ workers at the plant.

Other issues with which DCGL has been dealing include responding to the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to become compliant particularly in the area of dust emissions from the plant. Babu spoke about the companys intention to develop a ÔÇ£green beltÔÇØ around the factory. To this end, the company has already relocated six households deemed to be too close to the factory; this was done at the companys expense.

Amid claims that a woman had died from complications of inhaling cement dust from the plant, an autopsy was completed with Dr. Bediako Asare of the Ketu-South District Hospital announcing that the woman had succumbed to pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection, not cement dust.

While the Volta Regional EPA Director agreed that DCGL is currently operating within a permissible range of dust emissions, DCGL should move forward to formalize its plans to develop the ÔÇ£green belt.ÔÇØ

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