Two new cement plants are expected to begin operations by the end of the year, increasing production capacity to a level that meets domestic demand, according to a state official who said the government would stop issuing new licenses in order to protect dwindling natural resources. Chip Mong Insee—a joint venture between local conglomerate Chip Mong Group and Thailand’s Siam Cement Group—was preparing to open its $262mn cement plant in Kampot province next month. It will be Cambodia’s fourth cement production facility, with the almost-completed Battambang Conch Cement factory—a joint venture between Cambodian and Chinese investors—slated to be the fifth. The new cement plants will add to production capacity of the three existing licenses held by Kampot Cement, Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting, and Thai Boon Roong, with the government capping the number of cement production licenses at five. Once five cement producers are fully operational their combined output should come close to meeting domestic demand, but the booming construction sector would still need to import cement to fill orders and meet project specification, the official said. (Source: Phnom Penh Post)