The supply of local cement is expected to normalise from next week.

A breakdown at the Fiji Industries mill outside Lami has seen the only local supplier being forced to ration supply of cement.

A mechanical problem has seen a drop in the eleven thousand tonne monthly supply.

Fiji Industries General Manager Mosese Waqavakatoga says, the mill should be up and running by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Hardware stores should receive the full supply of cement by mid next week.

“We’ve supplied 8,000 tonnes and at the moment we’re supplying at a very slow rate from whatever stock we have.”

FIL keeps about a month’s worth of cement on standby and that’s been sustaining a little of the demand from the construction sector.

Waqavakatoga says until the mill is back at full strength major projects and government works have been given priority.

“We are just supplying our major customers – retailers and bulk baggers, all we are trying to do at the moment is ensure that bigger projects still carry on.”

Over the last three weeks, people have been calling up asking for cement – only to be turned away.