Libya to import 4 million tons of cement

Libyan officials discussed the "cement shortages in the Libyan market, especially that we are going to implement mega projects in the field of housing" the official news agency JANA yesterday quoted officials saying.

It quoted officials saying discussions "concluded several important procedures amongst which the need to glut the market with cement and to provide huge quantities of it during the coming period to satisfy the needs, he added."

The report added "It was agreed to import 4 million tons of cement at least, besides production of local factories, which production is estimated at over 4 million tons a year."

The report added "As concerning the free-floating of local price of cement, the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Economy and Trade referred to the resolution previously issued by the General People's Committee concerning the free-floating of local price of cement, produced by national companies in line with its cost." Adding an official said "the difference between the world and local prices is behind the resulting parallel market in this material and for this reason we are now concentrating on enabling national companies to eradicate this parallel market through the free-floating of prices of this commodity in accordance with the referred General People's Committee resolution."