20 February 2017
Bangladesh: Loesche Shanghai has signed a contract with China National Heavy Machinery Corporation to supply two sets of 35MW thermal power hot gas generator systems to the Bangladesh market. It will also provide installation and technical services. No information on the price of the contract or the end user has been disclosed. Loesche’s Shanghai subsidiary has previously supplied a 32MW automated control hot gas generator system to the Yadong Cement plant.
Maple Leaf Cement sales grow by 11% to US$114m in first half 20 February 2017
Pakistan: Maple Leaf Cement’s sales revenue increased by 11% year-on-year to US$114m in the first half of its financial year to 31 December 2016. Its profit rose by 12% to US$25m, according to the Dawn newspaper. Growth was attributed to cement sales in the local market despite a significant drop in exports to Afghanistan and an increase in the price of coal.
Semapa’s cement sales fall slightly in 2016 20 February 2017
Portugal: Semapa’s sales revenue from its cement business fell by 1.35% year-on-year to Euro471m in 2016. Its earning before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 0.3% to Euro85.1m. It attributed the slight fall in revenue to a fall in turnover in Portugal and Tunisia, although it noted that it rose in Brazil.
Its sales volumes of Ordinary Portland Cement rose by 5% to 4.99Mt from 4.73Mt but its clinker sales fell by 13% to 0.42Mt from 0.48Mt. Despite the poor state of the construction market in Brazil, the cement producer’s local firm, Supremo Cimentos, managed to increase its sales as its Adrianópolis plant increased its production in the year following its opening in mid-2015.
Portland Cement Association welcomes Scott Pruitt as Environment Protection Agency administrator 20 February 2017
US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has welcomed the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the US Senate.
“We congratulate Pruitt on his confirmation and look forward to working with him in the years ahead,” said PCA president and chief executive officer (CEO) James G Toscas. “His experience and background are strong indicators that we will see a common-sense approach to regulations that protect public health and the environment. We have always believed that the best regulatory solutions derive from adherence to the intent of the enabling legislation, together with an honest consideration of the perspectives and concerns of all involved, including public stakeholders, the regulating agency and the regulated industry. We believe and expect that Pruitt will restore balance to the regulatory process."