Southern Province Cement Company (SPCC) said the second production line at its Bisha factory is expected to come on stream in December this year, CEO Saffar M. Dhaffir was quoted as saying in Okaz newspaper.

In November 2013, SPCC signed a deal to build the new line at its Bisha plant with China’s CNBM, according to data compiled by Argaam.

Trial operations were intended to begin 20 months after the contract signing date, while commercial operations were set to be three months after the pilot launch.

The cement maker reported a net profit of SAR 266 million for first quarter this year, 20 percent higher compared to the same period in 2014.