During the April 11 opening of the new Votorantim Cimentos plant in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, it was expressed that the plant’s mission was to produce around 1.2 million tons of cement a year. The growth in demand by the homebuilding industry in the state has expanded by 9 percent in the first quarter alone over the previous year. Against this backdrop, the plant has the challenge of doubling the productive capacity in the region where the company already has a plant in the town of Nobres.
Mato Grosso Governor Silval Barbosa said the opening of another Votorantim Cimentos plant in the region highlighted the economic importance of the state. Cuiabá Mayor Mauro Mendes Ferreira made the same point and said the establishment of the new plant reinforced the importance of the role of Mato Grosso´s economy at national level.
Votorantim Cimentos Technical Director Edvaldo Rabelo said the group had been investing in Mato Grosso since 1990. The Cuiabá municipal government and Votorantim Cimentos recently invested in improving the public health system and upgrading public areas in an initiative that benefited around 15,000 residents.
Although it is in the initial operating stage, the plant has already led to the creation of 600 direct and indirect jobs. Professional training courses were offered to residents of Cuiabá and nearby towns during its construction.