In a story written by Barnabas Bii posted on Sunday Nation, June 21 2009 , titled 'Pokot residents excited about cement factory', Cemtech Sanghi Limited, a subsidiary of an Indian company, was endorsed. According to the Pokot County Council chairman Mr David Moiben, the company had forwarded a proposal and work plan worth over 8.1 billion to build the cement factory at Sebit and Chebchoi area. Mehta, another cement manufacturing company had also expressed interest.
According to The District Development Officer, Ms Gladys Kinyua, the district has untapped minerals such as gold, rupees and green-jennet.
In a Letter to the Editor to Daily Nation of Monday, May 17 2010 titled 'Revival of cement factory timely' Joel Onyango of Kericho wrote:
"The move by the government to ensure that operations at the Ortum cement factory in West Pokot resume as soon as possible is timely.
This will accelerate the economic growth of not only the region, but the country at large.
With the resumption of operation at the factory, towns in the surrounding area will develop faster besides creating more job opportunities.
It would have been very unfair to transport the raw material all the way from Ortum to Uganda for processing."
Cemtech Ltd paid Sh 150,000 per acre.
The Ortum Cement Factory is a Sh 14 billion project reached after 156 meetings and 462 letters. It resulted from 650 acres of freehold land bought from 200 private owners for a total cost of Sh 120 million, including compensation.
The potential of the Ortum Cement Factory is laudable. According to Sanghi Group director in charge of Africa investments Rajesh Kumar Rawal,"We expect to produce more than 600,000 tonnes of cement per year in the initial phase.Then we will expand to over one million tonnes in subsequent phases, subject to availability of additional limestone".
Kavee Quarries had been mining limestone since 1997 and transporting limestone 300 kilometres away citing "lack of electricity and poor infrastructure" in the area. The County Council was receiving Sh 1.2 Million annually in royalties from Kavee Quarries and sh 200,000 yearly for education bursaries
According to a feasibility study by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) and Lavalin International Limited, Ortum has a reserve of 5.9 millions tonnes of limestone.
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