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.
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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
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“For over 30 years, Diproinduca has helped steel mills and
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products, Diproinduca offers a “one-stop” solution for
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ARAWAK CEMENT COMPANY
001 246 439 9880
WWW.ARAWAKCEMENT.COM.BB
www.littlegatepublishing.com
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