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PPC - PPC announces R604 million capital expansion project Pretoria Portland Cement Company Limited Registration no. 1892/000667/06 JSE code: PPC ISIN: ZAE000005559 PPC announces R604 million capital expansion project Pretoria Portland Cement Company Ltd (`PPC`) today announced details of its latest cement upgrade and expansion project. The board of the company has approved the investment of R604 million to increase the company`s inland cement milling capacity. The project approval follows a period of detailed design and feasibility study and is in line with the company`s commitment to playing its part in meeting the country`s growing cement demand whilst also modernizing ageing equipment. A new one million ton per annum vertical roller mill, together with associated material handling and storage infrastructure, is to be constructed at PPC`s Hercules plant in Pretoria, and is expected to come on line mid 2009. One third of the new mill capacity will allow for the replacement of two older, less efficient mills. A reduction of up to 45% in milling energy consumption per cement ton compared to these two old Hercules mills, is projected. A further one third of the new capacity will be utilized to mill output from the Jupiter kiln which is now forecast to continue operating for some time post the Dwaalboom Batsweledi kiln project commissioning in the second quarter of 2008. Additionally, by utilizing this state of the art technology, current inland cement capacity will be increased by a further 300 000 tons per annum through the manufacture of increased volumes of extended cements from existing clinker capacity. The necessary approvals to proceed with the project have been obtained from the authorities. The R604 million project will be financed by a combination of operating cash flow and borrowings and will be spread over the three financial years of 2007, 2008 and 2009. For additional information, contact John Gomersall, CEO of PPC on +27 11 445 1015. For background information on PPC visit www.ppc.co.za Sandton 27 February 2007 Sponsor: J.P.Morgan Equities Limited Date: 27/02/2007 07:00:04 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
