07 July 2017
N+P Recycling celebrates 25th anniversary 07 July 2017
Netherlands: Alternative fuels specialist N+P Recycling has celebrated its 25th anniversary and the opening of its new headquarters in Nieuw-Bergen, Limburg. Company chief executive officer (CEO) Karel Jennissen presided at the event and Manon Pelzer, the mayoress of Nieuw-Bergen, was also in attendance.
200 guests attended the opening that included a guided tour of the new premises. At a ceremony marking the anniversary Karel Jennissen, with his wife Karin, presented the history of the company. Their three sons Lars, Stijn and Jens then gave guests a personal insight into their own experiences with the firm. This was followed the next day by a general tour of the facility for the local community with around 1000 members of the public.
A full report will be published in the September 2017 edition of Global Cement Magazine, including a visit to the company’s 80,000t/yr Subcoal production facility in Farmsum.
Image 1: Karel Jennissen of N+P Recycling
Image 2: Karel Jennissen N+P Recycling with his sons Lars, Stijn and Jens
Qatar: Mohamed Ali al-Sulaity, the general manager of the Qatar National Cement Company, says that a blockade of the country by neighbouring states has not effected its cement production. Al-Sulaity said that the cement producer has secured supplies of raw materials and is importing gypsum and iron oxide from Oman, according to the Al Sharq newspaper. He added that bags are being imported from Kuwait.
The company says that it has a surplus of cement production and is able to meet the country’s demand. It plans to operate its 5000t/day kiln number 5 in September 2017 that will increase its clinker production capacity to 19,000t/day and its cement capacity to 21,000t/day.
Several Middle Eastern countries – including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt – cut diplomatic links and implemented trade and travel embargos with Qatar in June 2017 over alleged links to terrorist groups and links to Iran.
Saudi Arabia cuts cement export duties 07 July 2017
Saudi Arabia: The trade ministry has cut the export duty on cement by 50%. It has also cancelled all export tariffs on steel for two years to encourage local producers, according to Reuters.
Bhutan: A broken gearbox at a coal mill at the Penden Cement Authority plant in Gomtu has reduced its production. The plant has had intermittent mechanical issues with the gearbox in one of its two coal grinding mills since April 2017 leading to a breakdown in May 2017, according to the Kuensel newspaper. Then in June 2017 a similar problem occurred with the main drive gear in its other coal mill. The plant has been producing cement using imported clinker since then although it shut down completely for several days in late June 2017.
So far the cement producer has been unable to procure replacement parts. It has also been reported that the company has had difficulty importing clinker from India following the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Nigeria: Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, the chairman of Bua Group, has promised that cement prices will soon fall. He made the comments after meeting with Yemi Osinbajo, the vice-president of the country, according to the This Day newspaper. He cited a fall in the price of low pour fuel oil (LPFO) and more favourable foreign exchange rates. He added that the three major cement producers were working ‘hard’ to reduce prices. However, he did not reveal a date for the reduction.
Timken to buy India’s ABC Bearings 07 July 2017
India: Timken India, a subsidiary of the US-based Timken Company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ABC Bearings, a manufacturer of tapered, cylindrical and spherical roller bearings and slewing rings. The deal has been structured as a merger of ABC Bearings into Timken India. It is expected to take at least six months to complete as clearances from various authorities are sought.
"Timken is a leader in the growing Indian bearing market, and the acquisition of ABC Bearings will expand our capacity, our customer base and our locally produced product breadth," said Richard G Kyle, Timken president and chief executive officer.