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Brazil: Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Votorantim Cimentos and China-based Huaxin Cement have all submitted ‘virtually’ identical bids for InterCement's assets in Brazil. Valor International News has reported that Huaxin Cement may be the bidder that best 'pleases' InterCement. As a would-be market newcomer, its acquisition of the business would not require investigation by the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE).
For rival bidder CSN, growth in Brazil would shape its planned initial public offering of its local cement subsidiary CSN Cimentos later in 2024. The group reportedly plans to appoint current CFO Marcelo Ribeiro as CEO of CSN Cimentos.
Heidelberg Materials France to trial carbon capture installation at Airvault cement plant 13 March 2024
France: Heidelberg Materials France plans to install a 1Mt/yr carbon capture system at its Airvault cement plant in the New Aquitaine. The Airvault cement plant is undergoing an upgrade, including the replacement of two pre-existing semi-dry lines with a new dry line and pre-calciner. This will reduce the plant’s CO2 emissions by 30% per tonne, reduce its energy consumption by 10% per tonne, reduce its clinker factor and raise its alternative fuel substitution rate to 90%. CO2 capture is set to commence in 2030. The project is one of several, under the GOCO₂ carbon capture, storage and utilisation (CCUS) cluster, which also includes installations at Holcim France’s Saint-Pierre-La-Cour plant and Lhoist France’s Réty lime plant.
Chair Dominik von Achten said “We started an ambitious modernisation programme for our sites in France several years ago, with a planned investment of more than €400m. With the integration of AirvaultGOCO₂, we are now adding a cutting-edge project in the field of carbon capture to our previous efforts, which will enable a further, massive reduction of Heidelberg Materials’ carbon footprint in France.”
Chief sustainability officer Nicola Kimm added “Our approach in Airvault is a perfect example of Heidelberg Materials’ strategy to implement dedicated carbon reduction roadmaps. We are taking every possible step to reduce CO₂ emissions: Phasing out fossil fuels, reducing the clinker content of our cements, and improving energy efficiency. To mitigate the remaining residual emissions, we rely on CCUS – as part of an integrated scheme and with our strong partners in GOCO₂.”
Ramco Cements inaugurates Gati Shakti cargo terminal 13 March 2024
India: Ramco Cements has inaugurated the Gati Shakti cargo terminal at Jayanthipuram in Andhra Pradesh’s NTR District. The company will use the terminal for rail transport of raw materials over 8.3km from the Budawada limestone mines to its Jayanthipuram cement plant. The route will use electric trains.
The company said “Ramco Cements is glad to be a part of the Dedicated Freight Corridor under the Gati Shakti Mission.”
India: Shree Cement has ventured into the ready-mix concrete (RMC) sector by acquiring five plants in Mumbai from StarCrete. The company disclosed the purchase on 12 March 2024, with the plants having a combined capacity of 422m3/hr. The deal, valued at US$4.04m, marks a strategic expansion for Shree Cement.
Neeraj Akhoury, Managing Director of Shree Cement, said “The strategic foray into the RMC segment is a step ahead in our vision to become a multi-product company centred around a core cement business. The RMC segment is expected to witness healthy growth, driven by government initiatives in large infrastructure projects and a booming housing construction sector.”
Pakistan: Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL) reports that it has become the country's third-largest cement producer by capacity, after expanding its annual production from 3.6Mt/yr to 10.6Mt/yr. The company achieved this through strategic mergers and capacity increases at its Nizampur and DG Khan plants, enhancing its industry presence and pushing into the southern market.
JS Global reports that FCCL's growth strategy includes a strong focus on cost optimisation. Operational efficiency has improved with a shift to more economical fuel sources, such as local and Afghan coal, and increased reliance on self-generated power, now at 60%. The addition of an 11MW solar plant in Nizampur and waste heat recovery plants has boosted FCCL's green energy capacity to 40MW, substantially lowering costs.
This strategy is expected to strengthen financial health in future quarters. Financial results for the second quarter of the 2024 financial year show profits of US$9.7m.