Nepal’s cement industry: growth, jobs and pollutionCEFR A2
25 Nov 2025
Adapted from Qian Sun, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by JC Gellidon, Unsplash
Nepal grew its cement industry after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Large investments, including from China, helped expand capacity. By 2019 the country could meet its own needs and it began exporting cement to India in July 2022.
China’s Hongshi signed a USD 359 million deal in 2017 and formed a joint venture with Shivam Cement. Hongshi planned large daily output. In 2019 Huaxin entered with USD 140 million and smaller daily targets. The industry created jobs and built roads, for example the Nawalparasi project that generated at least 10,000 jobs.
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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