20 September 2017
HeidelbergCement buys Cementir Italia 20 September 2017
Italy: HeidelbergCement’s subsidiary Italcementi has agreed to buy Cementir Italia from Cementir Holding for Euro315m. The acquisition includes all of Cementir Italia’s cement and concrete businesses including the subsidiaries Cementir Sacci and Betontir. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2018 subject to approval by the Italian Antitrust Authority.
“Cementir Italia provides an ideal industrial and geographic fit that significantly improves our nationwide presence in Italy,” said Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement. “For Italcementi, the acquisition is a unique opportunity to grow and consolidate its position in the Italian market. We see strong recovery potential in southern Europe and especially in Italy over the coming years. With this acquisition we are very well positioned to create value through synergies, efficient processes, and the offer of high-quality and innovative products. The acquisition is part of our strategy of disciplined growth and increasing shareholder returns.”
Cementir Italia’s business includes five integrated cement plants and two cement grinding plants with a total capacity of 5.5Mt/yr, as well as the network of terminals and concrete plants, all operating in Italy. Italcementi will fully integrate the operations into its current network. Minimum annual run-rate cost synergies of Euro25m are expected to be achieved by 2020. The acquisition will be financed with free cash flow. HeidelbergCement intends to pay for the purchase with the disposal of ‘non-core’ assets.
Akmenes Cementas terminal to open at Klaipėda in mid-2018 20 September 2017
Lithuania: Akmenes Cementas says that its new terminal at the port of Klaipėda will increase its exports to Scandinavia. At present the cement producer sends about 15% or 0.15Mt/yr of its output to the region, according to the Verslo Zinios newspaper. Once completed in the spring of 2018 the terminal will allow exports to be increased to 0.2Mt/yr.
Algeria to stop cement imports in 2018 20 September 2017
Algeria: Mohamed Benmeradi, the minister of commerce, says that Algeria will stop importing cement in 2018. He stated on national radio that the country is producing enough cement and is now considering exports, according to the Liberté Algerie newspaper. The government is amending the import licence system to encourage local growth.
Vissai Cement launches BillerudKorsnäs bag line 20 September 2017
Vietnam: Vissai Cement has launched QuickFill Clean (QFC) cement paper bags at its Vissai Ninh Bình cement plant. The bags are produced by Sweden’s BillerudKorsnäs. Vissai and BillerudKorsnäs signed a letter of intent about the packaging in April 2017, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper. Under the agreement, Vissai will become the only company to use BillerudKorsnäs cement packaging in Vietnam for a period of two years.
Siwertell receives repeat order for road-mobile ship unloader 20 September 2017
Sweden: Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has received a repeat order from an undisclosed client in the Middle East for a road-mobile ship unloader. The 10 000 S trailer-based, diesel-powered unit has been ordered in response to an expansion in white and grey cement operations.
Four killed in explosion at Rohri Cement plant 20 September 2017
Pakistan: At least four people have been killed at the Rohri Cement plant in Sindh whilst deactivating explosives. The fatalities included two law enforcement officers, a member of the bomb disposal squad and a worker, according to the Express Tribune newspaper. At least eight other people were also injured in the blast.
The police say that the victims were attempting to defuse around 2000kg of explosive material when it detonated accidentally. The explosives, designated for use in the plant’s quarry, had been dumped near the plant by its previous management.