16 June 2017
UK: Renold Couplings has added RBI rubber-in-compression couplings to its range of couplings. Torque is transmitted through compressed rubber blocks, which dampens vibration and eliminates backlash, in this type of coupling. Renold Couplings also say that rubber-in-compression couplings reduce service costs as the only serviceable items are the rubber blocks.
Vietnam: The government has approved development planning to start for an inland port for the Siam City Cement Vietnam Thi Vai cement grinding plant. The proposed site will be adjacent to the Thị Vải River, according to the Vietnam Investment Review magazine. The port is expect to be able to support barges with a capacity of up to 5000t. The plant was acquired by Thailand’s Siam City Cement in March 2017 when it purchased Holcim Vietnam from LafargeHolcim.
Nepal: Data from the Nepal Rastra Brank shows that the value of cement imports have doubled year-on-year to US$155m in the first 10 months of the current financial year from US$77m in the same period in 2015 – 2016. The surge in imports has coincided with a fall in the capacity utilisation rate of most cement plants to 60%, according to the Himalayan Times newspaper. The fall in local production has been blamed on difficulties importing clinker, coal and other raw materials. Reduced electricity supplies have also affected production. The Cement Manufacturers Association of Nepal hopes that, if these impediments are reduced, the country could become self reliant in clinker within two years.
Nepal: Annapurna Cements has started test production at its new plant in the Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor. The US$5.8m plant has a production capacity of 12000bags/day of Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), according to the Kathmandu Post. Commercial production at the site is expected to start by the end of June 2017. The plant will import raw materials from India and it plans to sell its products initially in Provinces One, Two and Three.
UAE: Salem Al Shehi, a member of the Federal National Council, has called for stricter measures to mitigate emissions from cement plants and other industrial production units. The representative from Ras Al Khaimah has suggested that these sites be fitted with filters and be constantly monitored, according to the Gulf News newspaper. He cited the concerns of residents living close to industrial sites in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ghail, Naseem, Suhaila and Al Manama.
Local legislation requires that dust-control techniques must be introduced in all quarries and mines, and owners of these sites are obliged to install air-monitoring stations linked to a control centre based at the RAK Environment Protection Authority’s headquarters. Despite this the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment issued pollution warnings to five cement plants between 2014 and the end of May 2017. 55 quarries were also temporarily shut down for breaching health and safety regulations in the same period.
Saudi Arabia: Cement sales have fallen by 19% year-on-year to 22.6Mt/yr in the first five months of 2017. Clinker production decreased by 11.3%, according to a market report by Al Rajhi Capital. Northern Cement and Najran Cement recorded the highest declines in the period at 50% and 43% respectively. The report does not expect demand to pick up in the remainder of 2017. Overall it forecasts a 14% fall in sales volumes to around 47Mt in the year. Saudi Cement, Yamama Cement, Yanbu Cement and Najran Cement hold 50% of the total inventory in the sector at 4.9Mt, 4Mt, 3Mt and 2.8Mt respectively.