Displaying items by tag: Infrastructure
Egypt: Suez Cement subsidiary Ready Mix Beton says that it has secured a contract for the supply of concrete for the construction of two new monorail lines projects. Due to begin in late-2020, the contract covers the construction of a monorail line between Cairo and the New Administrative Capital and another between 6 October City and Giza. The company says that it will use Suez Cement’s CEM III/A ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) cement to produce concrete for the 96km monorail network.
Suez Cement said, “CEM III/A cement is highly recommended when building thick concrete supports and massive structures because its hydration temperature of less than 210kJ/kg reduces cracking compared with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) when the applied concrete is subjected to dual exposure to sulphates and chloride ions, as happens in coastal areas.”
Uzbek government launches Karakalpakstan road project
09 September 2020Uzbekistan: The Ministry of Transport has secured a US$274m loan from the Asian Development Bank for investment in the construction of a 240km road in Karakalpakstan. Asian Development Bank senior transport specialist Pavan Karki said, “As a landlocked country, Uzbekistan has made regional connectivity a central element of its transport policy. This project will help develop the country's potential as a regional transport and logistics hub between Europe and Southeast Asia, contributing to economic growth.” The road will be part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme Corridor 2. Uzbekistan Newsline has reported that the project will generate ‘significant demand’ for the country’s cement producers.
Colombia: Argos has supplied 220,000t of cement and 765,000m3 of ready-mixed concrete to the site of the 8500m-long Túnel de La Línea road tunnel in Quindío and Tolima Departments.
Colombia regional vice president Tomás Restrepo said, “We are proud to have participated as allies in the construction of this mega-work that represents a great milestone for the infrastructure of our country and Latin America. This was a project that represented great logistical and technical challenges that Argos has faced with commitment. We are sure that this strategic work of interconnection will contribute enormously to the progress of Colombia and its people. This reflects our high purpose to continue contributing to the construction of dreams that drive development and transform lives"
Adelaide Brighton secures Sellicks Hill quarry lease
28 August 2020Australia: Adelaide Brighton has extended its lease over its Sellicks Hill quarry in South Australia until 2090. The Advertiser newspaper has reported that the signing of the lease, which secures the company’s local supply of limestone, “coincides with a rise in local cement consumption due to the government’s South Australia HomeBuilder building and renovation subsidy scheme,” according to the company. In August 2020 Adelaide Brighton signed supply contracts with BHP and OZ Minerals for infrastructure projects in the state.
Australia: Adelaide Brighton has recorded a net profit of US$21.1m in the first half of 2020, compared to a US$13.0m loss in the first half of 2019. Revenues fell by 7.3% to US$508m from US$548m due to a 12% construction decline over the period, according to the company. Residential construction fell by 16%, however mining and infrastructure activity remained consistent with levels in the first half of 2019. Adelaide Brighton said, “Cement demand is likely to continue to benefit from a strong production outlook for gold, nickel, and iron ore in particular, and stable demand from the alumina sector.”
Cementos Selva resumes Port of Yurimaguas operations
25 August 2020Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo subsidiary Cementos Selva has begun shipping 2550t/yr of cement produced at its 0.4Mt/yr integrated Rioja, San Matrín plant to the city of Iquitos via the Huallaga, Marañon and Amazon rivers following refurbishment of its Port of Yurimaguas cement terminal. The company said, “The facilities provided by the Port of Yurimaguas with its modern infrastructure and equipment, together with a coordinated logistical operation with the Rioja plant, has made it possible to considerably reduce reception and shipment times, demonstrating that good practices in the jungle are possible,” according to the Diario Gestión newspaper.
Cementos Argos is Colombia’s fourth most innovative company
24 August 2020Colombia: The National Association of Entrepreneurs and Dinero Magazine have named Cementos Argos fourth among 242 of Colombia’s most innovative companies. Chief executive officer (CEO) Juan Esteban Calle said, “This recognition fills us with pride and motivates us to continue to advance. We are convinced that it is possible to help materialise more dreams of housing and a better infrastructure for millions of people.”
US: Mexico-based Cemex supplied 15,000t of cement to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, for the construction of a 3770m runway and taxiway by McCarthy Improvement Company. Replacing an existing runway, the new runway is the longest at Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport.
Cemex USA president Jaime Muguiro said, “Infrastructure in the US needs improvements and updates so that Americans can remain connected and get where they need to go quickly, safely and efficiently. At Cemex, we are proud to securely support essential infrastructure projects that help achieve those goals and provide products that will enhance the experiences of travellers for years to come.”
VDZ forecasts level cement demand in 2020
12 August 2020Germany: The Verein Deutscher Zementwerke (VDZ) has forecast domestic cement consumption of 28.7Mt in 2020, consistent with the 2019 level. The impacts of the coronavirus lockdown were offset by “a good start to the year, not least due to the weather conditions” and “the continued operation of construction sites in March thanks to the quick actions of politicians.”
The organisation said that the situation was unprecedentedly unpredictable with orders and building permits currently in decline. It expects demand to partly tail off in the fourth quarter of 2020, falling by between 3 - 5%, as companies postpone or discard planned developments in the face of restricted budgets. It said, “Nonetheless, the government’s economic stimulus pacts will undoubtedly provide a positive impetus through such initiatives as public infrastructure and multi-family housing projects.
Eagle Cement shares first half 2020 results
11 August 2020Philippines: Eagle Cement recorded a net profit of US$26.5m in the first half of 2020, down by 61% year-on-year from US$68.0m. Sales also fell, by 44% to US$120m from US$214m.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Paul Ang said, “These are very difficult times but we remain confident that the economy will recover from this pandemic and emerge stronger. The government’s steady push for the completion of major infrastructure projects and the private sector’s readiness to bounce back offer encouraging signs for our company’s prospects moving forward.” He added, “More aggressive strategies in pricing and marketing will be undertaken in the remaining half of the year.”