21 September 2018
Vicat confirms talks with Ciplan 21 September 2018
Brazil: France’s Vicat has confirmed that it is in talks with Ciplan. Local newspaper Valor Econômico revealed that Vicat was in the ‘final stages’ of buying the cement producer. Ciplan was founded in 1968 and it operates an integrated plant at Sobradinho in Bahia near to Brasilia.
Brisk cement trade reported at Ethiopian-Eritrean border 21 September 2018
Eritrea/Ethiopia: High volumes of cement imports have been reported across the Ethiopian-Eritrean border following a normalisation of relations between the neighbouring countries. Since mid-September 2018 an estimated 50t/day of cement have been transported from Adigrat in Ethiopia to three border towns in Eritrea, according to business owners in Adigrat quoted by the Addis Fortune newspaper. “A minimum of 20 trucks carrying cement is leaving from Adigrat to Eritrea daily,” said Angesom Berhane, owner of a cement store in Adigrat.
First clinker shipment arrives at Port of Ngqura for Osho Cement 21 September 2018
South Africa: A ship carrying clinker and gypsum has arrived at the Port of Ngqura. The raw material is intended for Osho Cement, a company setting up a grinding plant at Coega special economic zone, according to the Herald newspaper. The imported clinker and gypsum was transported by truck to the new plant.
The joint venture between South Africa’s Osho ventures and Germany’s Heidelberg Cement plans to market cement from its new unit to South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and islands in the Indian Ocean. The plant is scheduled to open the new plant in late 2018.
India Cements chief predicts upturn for southern market 21 September 2018
India: N Srinivasan, the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements, predicts that cement demand is improving in the south of the country. At the company’s annual general meeting in Chennai he said that demand for cement is expected to improve the 70% capacity utilisation rate recorded in the 2017 – 2018 financial year, according to the Financial Express newspaper. The region had a cement production capacity of 160Mt/yr but demand was only up to 80Mt.
He added that India Cements reported a utilisation rate of 71% in the previous financial year and that this had improved to 80% in the first quarter of the current year. He also expected that the second quarter would be better despite floods in Kerala and a transporters' strike.
Cemex Balcones quarry celebrates 50th anniversary 21 September 2018
US: Cemex has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Balcones Quarry in New Braunfels, Texas with an event attended by Cemex USA Regional President - Texas and New Mexico Region Joel Galassini, and which included a planned quarry blast.
Balcones Quarry began operations in 1968. Cemex purchased the quarry along with the neighbouring cement plant in 1994. The quarry currently processes more than 10Mt/yr of crushed limestone annually and supports infrastructure, residential and commercial projects across Texas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently ranked the quarry as the top crushed stone producer in the country in terms of volume.
In 2016 the site opened a water recycling plant at the quarry to cut reliance on local water sources. Recently, Cemex opened its Wildlife Habitat Centre adjacent to the quarry to promote conservation and sustainability. The centre includes about 17 acres of restored prairie, pollinator gardens and meadows planted with native plants. An education centre and wheelchair-accessible produce garden are also on the site.
Oman Cement launches new brand identity 21 September 2018
Oman: Oman Cement has launched a new brand identity and logo. The changes to its marketing are intended convey its strong brand value proposition that is synonymous with quality, strength and reliability, according to the Muscat Daily newspaper. The new brand identity is hoped to help the company’s sales and market share.
Lipetskcement adds Eurocem 500 Extra to product portfolio 21 September 2018
Russia: Lipetskcement, a subsidiary of Eurocement, has added Eurocem 500 Extra to its product portfolio over the current construction season. The CEM II / А-W 42.5Н strength cement uses mineral additives to offer lower production costs, higher strength and higher corrosion resistance and water resistance. The product is offered in bagged and bulk consignments.