| Cement is a building material needed for national defense and daily necessities industries, and can be deemed a capital-intensive industry. There are now 15 cement plants with 25 kilns operating in Taiwan. Taiwan Cement, with its plant in Hoping Cement Industrial Zone in eastern Taiwan starting mass production in 2001, has become the island's largest cement maker, accounting for 52.7% of Taiwan's total annual cement production. Asia Cement is the second-largest maker with a 26.7% share of the output. Most of domestic cement output is for domestic use and only a small portion for export. In 2005, the island's cement production value came to NT$34.37 billion in 2005, up 8.67% from 2004.
Last year, the government joined forces with the cement manufacturers association and specialists from various cement firms to set up an ad hoc task force to counter the international calls for reducing CO2 emission, and commissioned a private research institute to study energy conservation measures.
The government will also promote the re-utilization of waste resources and the use of energy substitutes, reinforce pollution prevention, and safeguard the quality of national environment. It will also step up the implementation of the public infrastructure projects to stimulate domestic demand, thereby bolstering the development of the local cement industry. |
