By C. S. G.
Cement consumption in Lanzarote may mark an absolute record this year, if the trend of the first three months continues. In March, a "peak" of historical consumption has already been recorded, with an increase of 30 percent compared to the usual average of cement use on the island, and according to forecasts, this trend will continue in the coming months, according to sources in the sector. The construction of residential housing appears as the main "engine" in this growing demand for cement on the island, to which must be added a port work currently in progress that also has its impact, although to a lesser extent in terms of average consumption.
During the past year, the demand for cement on the island was 233,273 tons, a figure almost equal to that of 2004. But for this year, it is believed that this figure will be greatly exceeded, and it is most likely that the historical record of consumption of this product in Lanzarote, which was recorded in 2001, with 247,000 tons, will even be surpassed. For this year, sources in the production sector of this product estimate that 270,000 tons of cement can be reached.
The increase in demand has begun to cause the first problems for the construction sector in Lanzarote. Last Thursday the 16th, the supplying company on the island ran out of absolutely no cement, a situation that lasted until noon the following day, causing multiple complaints from construction companies about this shortage.
Cementos Especiales de las Islas Sociedad Anónima (CEISA) is the only firm that supplies this product to Lanzarote, with the exception of specific orders to other companies, of minimal impact on the general consumption of cement. The commercial director of CEISA, Claudio Piernavieja, explained to LA VOZ that the increase in demand registered from March 10 took them by surprise, since there are usually increases in consumption above the average at this time of year, but never of this magnitude. Usually, the increase in demand in the month of March is usually just over 15 percent, but this year it was 30 percent. Indeed, since the second week of this month, from the approximately 850 tons per day that CEISA distributes on the island, it has increased to 1,100 tons, according to Piernavieja.
Works and more works
"Three works of great magnitude are being carried out, including the foundations of the dock, but also the demand for cement for the construction of residential complexes has skyrocketed, especially in towns such as Costa Teguise", explained from the office in Lanzarote of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs.
In that entity they also believe that this trend will continue, and they hope that there will be no more episodes of shortages like the ones in recent days, which caused significant economic damages to the businessmen of the sector, although they also point out in the association that on this occasion, they have not received formal complaints from their associates.
The shortage was due, according to the commercial manager of CEISA, not only to the large increase in demand, but also to the limited port structures in Los Mármoles, which means that many times the ship that brings the cement has to wait hours to be able to dock, and sometimes even had to leave without being able to unload. "The port is often saturated, and as the port regulations establish a series of logical priorities, giving first place to passengers, then to perishable products, then to fuels, cement is at the end of the line", explains Piernavieja. "We are prepared to face increases in demand, and we assume that it is not necessary for us to be given the forecasts in advance, but when the increase is of the magnitude of those of the last days in Lanzarote, and to that are added the port problems, it is normal that there are some specific problems", explains the CEISA manager.
Evolution
Cement consumption on the island was, twelve years ago, less than a third of the current, since in 1993 70,742 tons were demanded, while last year that figure climbed to 233,000 tons. The historical record so far corresponds to the year 2001, with 247,000 tons.
Fifteen years ago, in 1991, cement consumption on the island was 100,059 tons. In the following three years there was a decrease, but from 1995 a constant increase began year after year until 2001, when the aforementioned record was recorded. Since then, after a slight decrease, consumption has remained stable, although what has happened so far this year suggests that this trend will be broken.
The commercial director of CEISA says that his company is preparing for what seems to be coming: "In the last four years, Lanzarote has been characterized by having a very stable consumption of cement, and therefore, this rebound in March of 30 percent in demand cannot but surprise us, and to us, as a producing company, it cannot lead us to anything other than to continue being prepared for what is coming".
The "route" of cement
95 percent of the cement used in Lanzarote is supplied by Cementos Especiales de las Islas Sociedad Anónima (CEISA). This company has its factory in Arguineguín, south of Gran Canaria. From there, the cement is transported weekly to Lanzarote in ships of the company itself. Each of the two ships it has has a capacity of 5,200 tons. To satisfy the demand of the island, one of those ships arrives each week to Los Mármoles with the capacity almost complete, or two with half load, depending on operational issues of the company itself.
The ship, when it arrives at Los Mármoles, unloads the cement through "hoses" that are connected to the underground pipes that the company has on the dock and that lead to the CEISA deposits, which are in the port itself. The cement is then transported in trucks from those deposits to the entire island.
The smallest island with the highest consumption per square meter
Lanzarote is currently the non-capital island with the highest consumption of cement per square meter of the entire archipelago. According to the global data of 2005, the consumption is 270 tons per square meter of the total area of the island (862 square meters). The non-capital island that follows is Fuerteventura, but with an abysmal difference: 144 tons on average per square meter of surface. Then comes La Palma, with 107, since this island, although it has a slightly larger area than Lanzarote (708 square meters), consumes three times less cement. Behind comes El Hierro, with 34 tons per square meter, and La Gomera, with 33.
The only two islands that surpass Lanzarote in terms of demand for cement in proportion to its surface are the capital ones: Gran Canaria, with 587 tons per square meter, and Tenerife, with 528. In these two islands, public works have a high impact on these figures, contrary to what happens in Lanzarote.
Cement consumption in Lanzarote in the last 15 years
Year Tons
1991 - 100,059
1992 - 73,692
1993 - 70,742
1994 - 67,345
1995 - 99,100
1996 - 104,275
1997 - 124,337
1998 - 151,083
1999 - 194,658
2000 - 243,366
2001 - 247,890
2002 - 227,983
2003 - 229,522
2004 - 234,366
2005 - 233 273
Sources: Association of Construction Entrepreneurs and CEISA.
