CEMEX celebrate Panama Canal expansion
Company supplies a million tons of cement for globally significant infrastructure project
CEMEX have joined Panama in celebrating the inauguration of the Panama Canal expansion. As the main cement supplier to the project, CEMEX provided close to 1 million tons of specially developed cement for the scheme, which is widely considered to be the most important global infrastructure project in the last 100 years.
In 2008, CEMEX invested more than US$300 million to triple production capacity in Panama to meet the country’s growing demand. This, together with the company’s technical capacity and international experience, ensured CEMEX were able to supply the cement for the project.
Moreover, to guarantee supply, CEMEX Panama dedicated a production line exclusively for the expansion project. For five years, the company provided a constant flow of building materials – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to facilitate the construction of the third set of locks for the Canal.
CEMEX Panama and CEMEX Research Group AG designed a special cement for the project. Developed with durable and low heat hydration properties, the innovative product allowed fast construction by facilitating massive pouring. The cement was also designed to be highly resistant to chemical sulfates that attack submarine structures.
‘CEMEX congratulate the Government, the Panama Canal Authorities, and especially the Panamanian people for the key role they played in this iconic project, which will change the dynamics of global trade and economy,’ said Fernando A. Gonzalez, chief executive officer of CEMEX. ‘Our ability to meet the design, supply and logistics requirements of our clients is a priority for us. We are proud to have fulfilled the demands of this mega-infrastructure scheme.’
