WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

The aim is always to be a company where the attainment of excellence through continuous profitability, production efficiency, ethical leadership and mutual trust are hallmarks of the business. This is the mandate of Arawak Cement. We caught up with General Manager Rupert Greene to talk about how it all came about.

MIXING IT UP, KEEP IT Strong

A decisive internal focus ensured that the employees became

the ultimate focus of Arawak Cement, which is fitting really

as a long held belief in industry is that a company’s focus on

employees directly relates and influences the focus on customers. For

Arawak Cement, as a dynamic member of the TCL Group of Companies

the employees are empowered, highly trained and indoctrinated into

a high culture of loyalty and commitment to teamwork. This is a trend

that seems to be intrinsic within this region of the world where much

attention and time is placed into looking after the staff, more so than

in other companies and certainly other countries an understanding

that creating loyalty is a two way street.

“It’s important that we work together as a unified team who

are sensitive to the three main pillars,” Rupert expresses, “Family,

community and environment.”

The genesis of the Arawak Cement Plant was the Bergstrom study

of 1973, commissioned by the Government of Barbados and Guyana.

The feasibility study was reported in 1976, which included details of

geological and geo-technical assessments of the proposed limestone,

“The kiln was reactivated in April 1997 and the project was an outstanding success, completed within budget and on time. The reactivation of the plant back to a full manufacturing operation, contributed greatly to reducing unemployment and the staff contingent jumped from 65 to more than 300 during the project phase and now has more than 250 permanent workers employed now.”

ARAWAK CEMENT COMPANY

“We wanted customer appreciation, honesty and fairplay to epitomise every aspect of our service,” Rupert Greene tells us.

Endeavour Magazine | 51

clay quarries and the intended plant site. Due to the subsequent

withdrawal of the Guyana Government, talks were initiated with the

Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the project

was eventually approved by both Governments as part of a Bilateral

Agreement dated April 1978.

The turnkey contract to supply, erect and commission the plant was

awarded to the Austrian Company Voest-Alpine in December 1980.

Financing agreements were established with Orion Bank of London,

in April 1981 and Arawak was subsequently incorporated under the

Companies Act of Barbados as a Limited Liability Company jointly

owned by the Government of Barbados (51%) and the Government of

Trinidad and Tobago (49%). In April 1984, the cement manufacturing

facility was commissioned and production subsequently began. The

plant operated from 1984 to 1991 as a full cement production facility

manufacturing its own clinker.

All success stories have to leap their fair share of hurdles

and Arawak Cement endured a period where they encountered

substantial losses and under a unanimous shareholders agreement,

the decision was made to close the kiln. The plant operated as a

grinding circuit supplying cement for the domestic market up to 1994

when a decision was made by the owners to sell the company.

Having seen the potential

and recognizing the importance

of the company, Arawak Cement

Company Limited was purchased

by the TCL Group in March

1994. Following a financial and

administrative restructuring of

the company a new management

approach was taken as well as

the introduction of progressive

levels of accounting, human

resourcing and reporting

systems, a complete turnaround

of financial fortunes was

instigated within one year of

purchase. At the same time, work

started in earnest on a BDS$13.6

million kiln reactivation project.

“The kiln was reactivated

in April 1997 and the project

was an outstanding success,

completed within budget and

on time,” Rupert tells us, “The

reactivation of the plant back to

a full manufacturing operation,

contributed greatly to reducing

unemployment and the staff

contingent jumped from 65

to more than 300 during the

project phase and now has more

than 250 permanent workers

employed now.”

The reactivation also meant

that Arawak could re-enter the

export market after an absence

of six years which is a major step

in re-establishing their presence

as a major player in the market.

The Arawak Cement plant is

located in Checker Hall, St. Lucy,

on the northern tip of the island

and very close to the coastline.

Answers for industry.

E100

01-M

1-Z5

2-V1

-760

0

siemens.com/mse

Service for the Metals Industry

ARAWAK CEMENT COMPANY

“Our primary activity is the manufacture and sale of Ordinary

Portland Cement,” Rupert explains, “Current production is at 360,000

tonnes per year.”

ACCL commissioned the use of a new solid fuel supply system

in 2007. Pet Coke was identified as the most economical and

reliable alternative for kiln firing at ACCL after the curtailment of its

orimulsion supply from Venezuela. The first year of operating the kiln

using 100% Pet Coke was 2008.

Getting ahead of their competition the company has made

significant steps to keep themselves as environmentally conscious as

possible, incorporating important energy saving measures into their

already malleable personnel culture.

“Arawak Cement remains committed to implementing

programmes to manage, as much as is possible, energy use across

the plant,” Rupert stresses, “Without compromising the quality of the

product produced. In addition we are working towards developing

export capabilities, in an effort to increase sources of revenue.”

Being one of the companies who are driving the growth and

development of their industry, the mantle of responsibility has landed

firmly upon their shoulders. Fortunately, the foundation that the

company stands on is as firm as the products they manufacture.

At Diproinduca our vision is to be an international leader in providing a cost effective, all inclusive service that converts industrial waste and by-products into saleable or disposable products.

Toward a cleaner planet

www.diproinduca.com | info@diproinduca.com | +1 (905) 709 6275

CANADA • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO • USA • BARBADOS • VENEZUELA • CHILE • MEXICO

Products & Services (Iron Ore & Steel Industry)

• Cold Briquette Iron• Iron & Steel By-product Recovery• Environmental Remediation Services• Vessel Loading Services• Clamp Shell Rental

“For over 30 years, Diproinduca has helped steel mills and

mineral processing companies around the world increase

profitability while lowering their carbon footprint by

empowering them with long-term, comprehensive

solutions that focus on the bottom line and the

environment. By combining its expertise in the recovery,

recycling, distribution, and disposal of waste and by-

products, Diproinduca offers a “one-stop” solution for

your waste management needs and a source for low-cost,

high-quality raw materials.”

ARAWAK CEMENT COMPANY

001 246 439 9880

WWW.ARAWAKCEMENT.COM.BB

www.littlegatepublishing.com