21 December 2016
Ciments de l'Afrique inaugurates grinding plant in Mali 21 December 2016
Mali: Ciments de l'Afrique (CIMAF) has inaugurated a 0.5Mt/yr grinding plant at Diago in the Koulikoro Region. The project has an investment of over US$32m, according to the MaliJet new website. It was built following an agreement signed in 2014 between the Addoha Group, the owner of CIMAF, and the government. President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita presided over the event with members of the of government and Anas Sefrioui, chief executive officer of Ciments de l Atlas (CIMAT) and head of CIMAF. The plant has created over 200 jobs.
Sibirsky Cement’s production falls by 19% to 3.1Mt in 2016 21 December 2016
Russia: Sibirsky Cement’s production has fallen by 19% year-on-year to 3.1Mt/yr in 2016. It has blamed the fall on a reduction of market demand in the Siberian Federal District. Cement consumption in the region is expected to fall by 14% in 2016.
StandartCement to build US$638m cement plant in Belgorod region 21 December 2016
Russia: StandartCement plans to build a 3Mt/yr cement plant in the Krasnogvardeisk district of Belgorod with an investment of US$638m. FLSmidth has been designated as the equipment supplier and lead engineering contractor for the project, according to Construction magazine and Interfax. Local government has allotted land and the project is expected to create over 700 jobs. No schedule for construction and commissioning has been released.
Java governor willing to shut Rembang cement plant 21 December 2016
Indonesia: Ganjar Pranowo, the governor of Central Java, is willing to shut down Semen Indonesia’s Rembang cement plant if the central government approves it. Ganjar made a statement in response to a protest staged by Rembang residents against the cement plant following a Supreme Court ruling in favour of the residents, according to Tempo magazine. He added that he has sought advice from the government including the presidential office, the Environmental Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of State Owned Enterprises. Ganjar has established a team to conduct a study and he has until 17 January 2017 to respond to the ruling.
Export tariff expected to hit Saudi Arabian cement profits 21 December 2016
Saudi Arabia: New legislation requiring cement exporters to pay tariffs of up to US$35/t is expected to reduce profits. The new import tax is also expected to compound problems for exporters created by restrictions linked to the gradual lifting of a ban on exports, according to Mubasher financial website. Cement producers are expected to be encouraged to focus on domestic sales instead. Financial analyst Jasim Al-Joubran of Al-Jazirah Capital has forecast low profits for the industry in 2016 due to low government spending. However, he added that sales are expected to recover in the fourth quarter of 2016 followed by a recovery in 2018.
My Home Industries to open grinding plant in Tuticorin 21 December 2016
India: My Home Industries plans to open a new cement grinding plant at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu in January 2017. The new plant is expected to expand the company’s market share in southern India, according to the New Indian Express newspaper. The cement producer has a production capacity of 8.4Mt/yr and the new unit will increase the total to 10Mt/yr.
“We are leaders in Andhra and Telangana. In Tamil Nadu we have about 7% market share and in Karnataka, it is about 5 – 6%. This plant would help strengthen our operations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala,” said Samba Siva Rao, the executive director of My Home Industries. He added that at present cement is transported to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from a plant in Kurnool.