TCL gets all clear to produce cement again

AFTER almost 40 days of closure, Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) has been given the all clear to resume its operations.

The company, in a media release, said it was granted permission to restart its business on Friday last week after having to close in compliance with Government’s covid19 restrictions.

The all clear came one day after Newsday reported the country had been hit by a cement shortage with consumers complaining there was none to buy at hardwares, or they were being charged $100 – more than twice the usual price of $45.

TCL general manager Guillermo Rojo said in the release that since the outset of the pandemic, the company has been proactively implementing several covid-19 counter-measures based on international best practices from its Cemex worldwide operations.

He added that multiple protocols have been implemented, including temperature testing at all access points and the activation of a local rapid response team, as the company continues to implement preventive measures to reduce the risks to the CemexTCL community.

The release stated that TCL, like many other businesses, has been faced by several complications due to the pandemic.

"Over the past weeks, there has been mounting concern about the impact on the construction sector, which is regarded as a major contributor to TT’s economy.

Rojo commented: “We have been closely examining the situation in anticipation of reopening and have developed many protocols and strategies to share with our stakeholders in the interest of quickly and safely rebuilding the sector.”

He added that while working to minimise the impact on TCL’s business and the ability to serve its customers, the company will continue to regulate its operations in accordance with public health regulations and guidance provided by the Government.

TCL Group chairman David Inglefield thanked all employees for their sacrifices and the essential role played in keeping covid-19 out of the business.

“Your persistence, dedication and strict adherence to the health and safety protocols during this difficult period of lockdown has brought us to this point, with our people safe and healthy and our plant in good shape and ready to restart. We will recover and rebuild whatever setbacks there are in the local trade and our export markets”.

TCL stated the Claxton Bay plant "is once again ready to safely and fully supply the local market as well as its customers across Caricom, eliminating the cement scarcity of the last few weeks and generating necessary foreign exchange for the country."