11 December 2017
UltraTech Cement to build US$287m plant in Rajasthan 11 December 2017
India: UltraTech Cement plans to build a US$287m plant at Pali in Rajasthan. The 3.5Mt/yr unit is expected to commence operation by June 2020. The cement producer said that the plant is being set up in one of the fastest growing markets in the country and highest cement consuming states in the North Zone of the country. It added that the plant will serve markets in western Rajasthan where the company does not have a ‘significant’ presence.
Semen Indonesia grows cement sales volumes as profits suffer 11 December 2017
Indonesia: Semen Indonesia’s cement sales volumes rose by 8.1% year-on-year to 25.8Mt in the first 10 months of 2017. However, despite this the company’s profit declined due to falling prices, according to the Antara news agency. In addition production costs have risen due to higher electricity and coal prices.
Liberia: The government is reviewing an Investment Incentive Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Dangote Cement Liberia worth over US$41m. The review by the House of Representatives follows a letter from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urging the legislature to ratify the agreement, according to the Daily Observer newspaper. The agreement covers a 15 year period whereby the Nigerian company will build and operate a 1000t/day cement grinding plant at Monrovia. The deal also includes the option to double the production capacity if the unit.
Senegalese government to restrict new permits to cement producers based on market demand 11 December 2017
Senegal: Aissatou Sophie Gladima, the Minister of Mines and Geology, says that the government will only issue new operating permits to cement producers if there is evidence that existing plants are unable to meet local demand. Gladima made the comments on a visit to the Dangote Cement plant at Pout in Thies, according to the Senegalese Press Agency. The minister added that the country’s Plan Senegal Emergent (PSE) requires lots of minerals.
Algeria to start exporting cement 11 December 2017
Algeria: Trade Minister Mohamed Benmeradi says that Algeria will commence cement exports. An export of Ordinary Portland Cement will be made to Gambia via the port of Arzew, according to the El Moudjahid newspaper. In a separate statement LafargeHolcim Algeria said that it was exporting 16,000t of cement to West Africa from its plant at Oggaz.
Colombia: Cementos Argos has set up a subsidiary, Granulados Reciclados de Colombia (Greco), to recycle construction material waste. The new company’s operations will be based at its Cota plant in Cundinamarca, according to La Republica newspaper. The operation is expected to process over 1Mt/yr of construction waste material. The company is a joint operation with local industrial conglomerate Fanalca and South Korean lighting equipment manufacturer Daeyang.