Displaying items by tag: Upgrade
Lafarge explains activity at Ravena
24 November 2011US: Lafarge has reiterated that its expansion and modernisation plan at its Ravena plant in New York State is on track, hitting back at rumours from recently laid-off employees that the company had slowed down or even scrapped its plans to expand the site.
During a press tour of the site, Lafarge's environmental manager for North America, John Reagan, provided evidence that the project had moved to a pre-construction stage. The US$300m modernisation project underwent nearly three years of permitting with the Final Environmental Impact Statement granted in the summer of 2011. Contractors are dismantling structures at the adjacent Callanan Industry site, so that Lafarge has the room for expansion.
Reagan said that the final design and procurement of materials is ongoing with the construction phase planned from late 2011 to 2014, with start-up planned for mid-2014 and full operation planned for 2015. “2015 seems like a long time from now,” Reagan said, “But it’s not much time to complete all the work that has to be done.” Additionally, the senior project manager, John Light, spoke of the upcoming procurement of heavy equipment including new vertical roller mills.
Over the past few weeks several former Lafarge employees, some of whom were among the 39 laid off on 27 October 2011, have accused the company of everything from not intending to build the new plant to mismanagement. One has accused the company of doing just the bare minimum required to keep the permits valid before closing the plant when the permits expire.
Lafarge said that it plans to stay in Ravena and that the layoffs and the cut in production were related to the ailing US economy. The plant will soon go to a one-kiln operation, a 50% reduction in capacity. “Demand for cement will determine what capacity we run at,” said Reagan. “We anticipate, based on industry forecasts, that demand will not change much during the next two years."
Anhui Conch embraces 'go-global' policy
16 November 2011China: Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd, China's biggest cement producer, plans to add 10Mt/yr of cement production capacity to its annual total by 2015 via overseas expansions. This will include both setting up its own new facilities and acquiring international rivals that are currently weakened by the European debt crisis, according to Wang Jianchao, manager of Anhui Conch's foreign economic cooperation department. Anhui Conch wants to expand its production to other countries because China has restrictions on new cement projects, which aim to combat the industry's overcapacity. The Shanghai-listed company produced 110Mt of cement in China in 2010 according to its annual report.
Jianchao said that the company, which currently has no overseas production, is engaged in a 'go-global' strategy. "Many cement plant owners in the Eurozone want a quick bailout because they need cash to save their businesses, which were hit hard by the European debt crisis," said Wang, adding that the company is moving at the best time to build its overseas operation. He declined to disclose the budget for strategy, but said the company is financially strong enough to expand.
Anhui Conch Cement began its overseas expansion in late June 2011 when it signed a memorandum of understanding to invest USD2.35bn in several Indonesian cement plants. Wang offered no details on the status of the proposed Indonesian projects, but he hinted that the Anhui Conch's first foreign factory may open elsewhere because opportunities in other countries are also being explored.
"Apart from Indonesia, we are in discussions with potential business partners in Mongolia, Central Asia and South America. It's hard to say whether our foreign production will operate in Indonesia first, because other foreign projects may proceed more smoothly," said Wang.
To help its overseas expansion plan go smoothly, Anhui Conch teamed up with the Swedish industrial leader Atlas Copco Group AB to gain access to its cutting-edge mining machinery and training systems. The two companies have a history of cooperation dating to 1993 and the drilling equipment used by Anhui Conch is supplied by Atlas Copco.The Swedish company has a strong customer base in Indonesia.
Oman Cement Co secures USD68m loan for upgrades
20 October 2011Oman: BankMuscat has signed an agreement with Oman Cement Company (OCC) for term loans totalling USD68m to refinance and modernise OCC plants.
The loan will be invested in funding the project for upgrading the OCC furnace efficiency and improving equipment of combating pollution, in addition to benefiting from the loan in the recovery of another funding loan.
Jamal bin Shamis al-Hooti, CEO of OCC said that the agreement would help the OCC factory to meet requirements of the Omani market.