Global Cement News
Search Cement News
Fatick Hussain Al Balushi appointed as chief financial officer of Oman Cement
Written by Global Cement staff
27 November 2019
Oman: Oman Cement Company has appointed Fatick Hussain Al Balushi as its chief financial officer (CFO). Fatick holds over 15 years of experience in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. He worked for the Oman Oil Company and its subsidiary, the Salalah Methanol Company, in a variety of roles including financing manager for the ammonia project, head of finance and information technology (IT) and finance director. He is an alumni of the Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and the University of Leicester in the UK.
Khandakar Ataur Rahman Rifat appointed chief marketing officer of Metrocem Cement
Written by Global Cement staff
27 November 2019
Bangladesh: Metrocem Cement has appointed Khandakar Ataur Rahman Rifat appointed as its chief marketing officer. He holds 25 years experience in the cement industry working for Aman Cement, Holcim Cement, Unique Cement, Cemex Cement, Hyundai Cement amongst other companies. He earned a BSS and a MSS from the University of Dhaka, an MBA in marketing from the World University of Bangladesh and a PhD in marketing from the same institution.
Cemex to sell Kosmos Cement plant in Kentucky to Eagle Materials 27 November 2019
US: Cemex says it has agreed to sell the Kosmos Cement Company to Eagle Materials for around US$665m. The Mexican company owns a 75% stake in the company and Italy’s Buzzi Unicem manages the remainder. It expects to receive US$499m from the transaction. This will be spent on debt reduction and for general corporate purposes. The sale includes the 1.7Mt/yr Kosmos integrated cement plant in Louisville, Kentucky as well as seven distribution terminals and raw material reserves.
“This is another key milestone in achieving our ‘A Stronger Cemex’ objectives. Now, closed or announced asset sales are in excess of US$1.3bn under this program. We are pleased with the continued favourable asset-divestment dynamics in our industry,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex.
Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval. It is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2020.
CRH’s sales grow by 4% to Euro21.8bn so far in 2019 27 November 2019
Ireland: CRH’s sales revenue grew by 4% on a like-for-like basis to Euro21.8bn in the first nine months of 2019. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7% to Euro3.2bn. Sales grew fastest in its European and American heavy materials divisions with earnings growth more pronounced in North America than in Europe. The group reported growth in ready-mixed concrete and cement sales in North America as it continued to consolidate Ash Grove into the business. Sales in Europe were generally good, although declining construction activity in the UK was noted due to market uncertainty related to the country’s attempt to leave the European Union. CRH also reported falling sales volumes in the Philippines due to a slowdown in infrastructure spending.
Uzbekistan: The State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection plans to ask cement plants to establish sampling and analysis stations for sources of air pollution by the start of 2022. If they don’t the government will take measures up to and including suspension of production, according to the Trend News Agency. Uzbekistan was ranked in 16th place by AirVisual in a listing of the countries with the most air pollution in 2018.