The firm is employing new technologies and energy-efficient solutions to better protect the environment and facilitate a technology upgrade of the whole industry, according to Tan.

The company is expecting strong market demand for cement equipment technology and engineering capacity both at home and abroad in the next five years.

Nearly half of China's existing cement manufacturing capacity is subject to technological renewal during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10), and newly added capacity will also need further investment, said Tan.

These factors will provide Sinoma with golden growth opportunities, and Tan has to take active measures to seize them.

"During the country's 11th Five-Year Plan we are to follow the industrial authority's guidance to enhance technology capability, slam energy consumption and encourage innovation as well," Tan told China Daily in the lead-up to the Intercem China Conference to be held in Beijing next Tuesday and Wednesday. Authorized by the State Council and co-organized by Intercem and Sinoma, the conference will address topics such as sustainable development within the cement industry.

Tan told China Daily that Sinoma is sparing no effort to find new sustainable technologies and adopt a more proactive marketing approach to further tap both the Chinese and foreign market.

Sinoma has invested in research and development on a yearly basis for innovation and new technologies, in line with the State's call for energy efficiency and environmental protection, said Tan.

"For instance, we have invented a solution to generate electricity by making use of the low-temperature waste heat from cement plants. We anticipate half of the required power capacity in cement plants can be derived in this way in the future," he said.

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