UNION Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than visited the Shan Yoma Cement Factory yesterday morning to inspect its cement production and testing process­es, after which he instructed factory officials to ensure full op­erational capacity, stockpile nec­essary spare parts and inputs, and plan electricity production in line with the plant’s schedule.

In the afternoon, the Un­ion minister met with officials at the Apache Cement Factory meeting hall in Pyinyaung, Thazi Township, and instructed them to ensure the factory produces electricity according to its plan while contributing surplus pow­er to the national grid, which greatly benefits the country. He also toured the facility to in­spect equipment damaged by the earthquake and assess the factory’s electricity generation process.

On 7 June, the Union minis­ter, accompanied by Shan State Minister for Economic Affairs U Khun Thein Maung, held sepa­rate meetings with officials from the mill construction project at No 2 Steel Mill (Pangpet) in Taunggyi Township, Shan State, as well as with officials and staff from the Shan State Department of Industrial Supervision and In­spection.

During the meeting, the Un­ion minister said that the Man­dalay earthquake had caused extensive damage to homes, fac­tories, workshops, roads, bridg­es, and religious buildings, and that reconstruction work must be carried out at an accelerated pace. He emphasized the im­portance of obtaining pig iron materials that meet the required standards for producing qual­ity iron and steel domestically, directed efforts to commence pig iron production promptly to supply quality materials for public construction needs, and provided subsidies to employees.

In the afternoon, the Union minister inspected the equip­ment at the Air Separation Plant, which was under repair by for­eign experts and local techni­cians. — MNA/TH