KATHMANDU, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Hongshi-Shivam Cement Private Limited, a Nepal-China joint venture, started trial cement production in Nepal starting from Friday, a director of the company said.

Satish Kumar More, a director of the company, told Xinhua on Sunday that they planned to start commercial production after completing trial production for a week.

On Friday, a ceremony was held at the project site in southwestern Nawalparasi district. Once in full operation, it will be the largest cement factory to date in Nepal, with production capacity of 6,000 tonnes a day.

China's Hongshi Cement is investing 359.18 million U.S. dollars as per the Project Investment Agreement signed with the Investment Board Nepal. The Chinese company has 70 percent stake in the company.

More said that once the factory starts commercial production, it would fulfill the need for quality cement for various infrastructure projects and cement needs of individual households.

"We are using diesel plant for power needed to operate the factory initially," said More.

Beside diesel plant, the company is also set to produce electricity from the wastage within a month.

Nepal Electricity Authority, the state-owned sole power utility body, has promised to complete the transmission line connecting the factory within the next 14 months, according to company.