Trinidad Cement Limited
Annual Report 2012
38
The Year in Review
Group CEO’s Report and Management Discussion 2012 (continued)
5.0 GROUP DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES
As indicated in the 2011 annual report, some Group developmental activities were
deferred due to severe cash constraints:
•
Haiti -
While theCementWarehouse andTerminal Project inHaiti has been temporarily
put ‘on hold’, the Group continues to sell an average of 10,000 MT of cement on
a monthly basis through two major players in the market.
•
Housing -
RML is currently in the process of seeking Outline Approvals from the relevant
state agencies to construct a housing development (a gated community) on
approximately two hundred acres of pristine land in Arima.
•
Concrete Roads and Soil Stabilisation -
The year 2012 also marked the respective launches of Concrete Roads in
Jamaica and Soil Stabilisation in Trinidad.
CCCL had a successful launch of its concrete roads campaign in September
and participated in the Jamaica Institute of Engineers (JIE) Conference
by sponsoring two presentations on concrete roads—one focused on the
advantages and the other—a technical presentation from CEMEX. The
momentum generated through CCCL’s public awareness campaign followed
through into November and the road rehabilitation joint project of CCCL and
the National Works Agency (NWA) was featured on TVJ News.
In Trinidad and Tobago, TCL launched ‘Soil Cement Stabilisation’ as an
alternative use of cement in road construction.TheMayo road was successfully
completed and displayed to government agencies and contractors. Initial
feedback is highly favourable and conversations continue around the cost
savings associated with this new technology. The opportunities for use
of this technology are vast, as discussions were held about utilising it in
slope stabilisation projects as well. TCL ended the year with its soil cement
stabilisation initiative receiving wide coverage in the local media. A promotional
video and brochure are being finalised for circulation to key persons in 2013.
•
French West Indies Market Entry -
After much persistence in completing all the requirements and liaison with the
relevant agencies in France to secure the necessary certifications and approvals
to trade in French jurisdiction, ACCL received its “Certificate of Conformity for
Cement” (CE) in August 2012. The final and critical certification, the ‘AFNOR
NF’ was subsequently obtained in February 2013. The first shipment of 500MT
was executed in late April 2013.
6.0 HUMAN CAPITAL
In 2012, the TCL Group experienced its most challenging year with regard to its
industrial relations climate in its 58 years of operations. Despite the worsening
economic conditions throughout the region and employees’ anxiety about the
future of the company, the workforce continued to have unrealistic expectations
In Trinidad and
Tobago, TCL
launched ‘Soil
Cement Stabilisation’
as an alternative
use of cement in
road construction.
The Mayo road
was successfully
completed and
displayed to
government agencies
and contractors.
Initial feedback is
highly favourable
and conversations
continue around
the cost savings
associated with this
new technology.
