03 July 2017
Turkey: Brazil’s Votorantim is set to inaugurate a Euro140m upgrade project at its Sivas cement plant. The project has been part of the cement producer’s strategy to increase its revenue outside of Brazil, according to the Valor Economico newspaper. The upgrade has seen the plant’s cement production capacity rise to 1.8Mt/yr from 0.6Mt/yr. Prior to the investment the plant accounted for around 19% of Votorantim’s 3Mt/yr production in Turkey and once fully operational it will account for 42%. The plant will supply the market with CEM I and CEM II products.
Company president Walter Dissinger said that international sales account for 40% of group revenue. However it is hoped that this will recede to 30% once the Brazilian market starts to recover. The company is also building an upgrade at its Charlevoix plant in the US.
India: Odisha’s State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) has approved a proposal by Ambuja Cements to build a 1.5M/yr cement grinding plant at the Industrial Growth Centre, Jharsuguda. The proposed unit will use an area of 125 acres, according to the Press Trust of India. It is expected to create 300 direct and indirect jobs. Once complete the plant will join the company’s five integrated cement plants and eight grinding plants.
India: France’s Fives has receive an order from AMCL Machinery to supply a new FCB TSV Classifier 4500 THF. The classifier will be used by Ramco Cements at its R R Nagar Plant in Tamil Nadu. Previously the cement producer has installed FCB TSV classifiers at its grinding plants in Kolagat, Salem and Chengalpattu.
Chile: Hurtado Vicuña Group has been cleared by the Chilean competition authority (TDLC) to buy a controlling stake in Cemento Polpaico from LafargeHolcim. However, it will be required to sell assets from its concrete business worth up to an estimated US$90m, according to the Diario Financiero newspaper. The agreement also includes other measures such as a ban on repurchasing assets within 10 years. Hurtado Vicuña and its subsidiary Inversiones Caburga operate Cementos Bicentenario (BSA). It agreed to buy Cemento Polpaico in October 2016.
Bolivia: Cement producers have called for a ban of cement imported from Peru. The producers met and then asked government for the measure in order to protect the local industry, according to the El Mundo newspaper. They have also suggested that import tariffs be raised at the very least as well as other measures.