21 March 2017
Redecam Group and Isgec Heavy Engineering start air pollution control joint venture in India 21 March 2017
India: Redecam Group and Isgec Heavy Engineering have started a joint venture called Isgec Redecam Enviro Solutions in Noida, Delhi. The new company will provide for flue gas treatment systems for the cement, power and metals industries.
“Air pollution is one of the major environmental issues India and the rest of Asia face today and it is a serious problem with the major sources being industrial emission and biomass burning, vehicle emissions and traffic congestion. In the effort to reduce the country’s air pollution, Redecam and Isgec aim to build a strong business in Asia, drawing upon Redecam’s global expertise combined with the skills and knowledge of Isgec, a strong partner headquartered in India,” said Barry Downing, chief executive officer of Redecam Group.
Italy’s Redecam Group is an engineering company that serves the air pollution control industry around the world. India’s Isgec Heavy Engineering is a general engineering company with references in the cement, chemical, textile, power, oil, gas and sugar industries.
Four workers die at Zhongda cement plant 21 March 2017
China: Four workers have died when the roof of a shed collapsed at the Zhongda cement plant in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. Three workers died at the scene and another died in hospital, according to the Xinhua News Agency. An investigation is currently underway.
Ethiopian regional government demands that foreign cement producers offer jobs to unemployed 21 March 2017
Ethiopia: Regional officials are demanding that foreign cement producers, including Dangote Cement and Derba Midroc Cement (DMC), should let cooperatives of unemployed young adults run part of their mining businesses. A draft contract drawn up by Oromia state’s East Shewa Zone administration wants the young adults to operate pumice mines for the cement producers, according to Bloomberg. The initiative follows attempts by the national government to alleviate social pressures, following violent protests in the state in late 2016 in response to over alleged land dispossession, political marginalisation and state repression. The local administration reportedly stopped production at the Dangote and DMC plants in early March 2017 while it discussed its proposals with the producers, according to local press.
Arkan closes Emirates Cement plant 21 March 2017
UAE: Arkan has closed its Emirates Cement plant in Al Ain blaming increasing gas and electricity costs. The building materials company temporarily closed the plant in late 2016 but this has now become permanent, according to the National newspaper. Production will move to its newer Al Ain Cement plant that is now running at almost full production capacity. The decision to close the older plant is expected save the company US$12m/yr. The Emirates Cement plant was one of the oldest cement plants in the country with operation since the 1970s.