The construction of a new cement plant in Magude district, in the southern province of Maputo, will begin next year according to the provincial director of Trade and Industry, Fanieta Manjate. Initially, the construction work had been scheduled to start in June, reports the daily newspaper "Diario de Mocambique". Budgeted at US$ 78 million the project is being developed by the Chinese company "Africa Great Wall Cement Manufacturer". The factory will be built in Chichuo, about 11 kilometres from Magude, covering an area of 80 hectares. The region has huge limestone deposits, which is one of the key ingredients of cement. The plant will have the capacity to produce up to 500,000 tonnes of cement per year.