Nepal's Cement Production: A Double-Edged Sword of DevelopmentCEFR A2
25 Nov 2025
Adapted from Qian Sun, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by JC Gellidon, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Nepal has become self-sufficient in cement production, mainly due to Chinese investments. Before this, Nepal imported cement from India and other countries. After the 2015 earthquake, the demand for cement grew a lot.
China’s Hongshi Group invested heavily in Nepal’s cement factories. This created thousands of jobs and has helped local economies. However, this development has also led to serious environmental issues. Pollution from cement factories affects air, water, and soil.
Difficult words
- cement — A building material made from powder.cement production, cement factories
- investment — Money spent to earn more money.investments, invested
- produce — To make or create something.production
- environment — The air, water, and land around us.environmental
- demand — The need for something.
- job — Work that a person does for money.jobs
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think local economies benefit from cement production?
- What are some ways to reduce pollution from factories?
- Why is it important to be self-sufficient in resources like cement?
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