PT Semen Padang, in 2010, decides a target to produce 6.1 million tons of cement or 5 percent higher than the 2009’s production target which was 5.7 million tons, in effort to anticipate the predicted world cement demand which will reach between 6 to 8 percent, said Marketing Director of PT Semen Padang, Widodo Santoso, in Bengkulu on Thursday.

The domestic cement demand is also predicted to increase from 35.2 million tons in 2009 to 40 million tons in 2010. Out of the 35.2-million-ton cement demand in 2009, the company has succeeded to supply 13 percent. And the remaining total has been supplied by its competitors.

For the cement market share of 2010, the company has a target to accomplish a 5 percent increase, he added. Playing as the biggest cement supplier in Sumatera, PT Semen Padang with its 2010’s production target will be able to supply 50 percent of the demand.

Supply for the domestic cement demand will be the number-one priority following the earthquake disaster which struck Padang – West Sumatera and the surrounding areas including PT Semen Padang. In spite of the fact that one of its plants has had some troubles due to the earthquake which has pushed the company to reduce its production until 400 thousand tons, the 2010’s target of production will be optimistically achieved.

“One of our plants has been damaged due to the earthquake, but will be re-operated in 2010 and ready to achieve the 6.1-million-ton production target,” he said.

The cement demand in Sumatera has reached 9 million tons, the second biggest market after Java. ‘Up to now, PT Semen Padang has dominated the cement supply in Sumatera, reaching 49.8 percent; other six competitors have supplied the rest,” he said.

In line with the above-described high cement demand, PT Semen Padang, under one management with PT Semen Gresik will give its best focus on the cement market in Sumatera.