16 October 2018
France/Syria: A judicial investigation has seized Euro4m from former Lafarge executives, including former chief executive officer (CEO) Bruno Lafont, as part of a probe into the company’s conduct in Syria. Sources quoted by the Agence France Presse said that Euro2.5m was confiscated from Lafont’s leaving package of Euro8.4m as Lafarge merged with Holcim to form LafargeHolcim. Funds were also taken from Bruno Pescheux and Frédéric Jolibois, the former directors of Lafarge Cement Syria, and from Christian Herrault, a dormer deputy general regional manager with overview of Syria.
Lafarge SA, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, has been placed under judicial investigation over its actions in Syria between 2011 and 2014. It has been accused of complicity in crimes against humanity and financing terrorism. A panel of three judges in Paris has ordered Lafarge to pay over Euro30m as a security deposit ahead of the trial. Eight former executives, including Lafont, have been charged in connection to the investigation.
Sweden: Cementa says it is considering decommissioning clinker and cement production at its 0.3Mt/yr Degerhamn plant due to increased environmental regulations. Production will be shifted to other local plants at Slite on Gotland and Brevik in Norway, and the site retained as a port terminal.
The subsidiary of Germany’s HeidelbergCement said that although the unit had made several investments over the years to reduce its environmental impact its production equipment was difficult to adapt to future requirements for lower CO2 emissions. Concentrating production to the other plants would mean a reduction in CO2 emissions of 260,000t/yr.
75 employees work at the plant at Degerhamn. Union negotiations will start immediately and upon their conclusion the cement producer will make a final decision about the future of the plant. If decommissioning goes ahead then clinker and cement production will cease in 2019.
Dangote Cement starts building 2.5Mt/yr plant in Niger 16 October 2018
Niger: Nigeria’s Dangote Cement has started building a 2.5Mt/yr cement plant at Keita, near Tahoua. The project has a cost of US$275m, according to the Agence France Presse and local media. Construction is expected to last until the end of 2020. The unit will also include a 100MW captive coal-fired power plant.
The new plant is expected to reduce the price of cement locally, as the country mostly imports cement from Nigeria and Benin. Nouvelle Cimenterie de Niger (NCN) has been intermittently building an integrated plant at Malbaza since 2011.
CCNN receives clearance for merger with Kalambaina Cement 16 October 2018
Nigeria: The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) says it has received clearance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for its proposed merger with Kalambaina Cement. Following the merger all of the assets, liabilities, licences and undertakings will be taken over by the CCNN, according to the Punch newspaper. The completion of the proposed merger is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the CCNN and Kalambaina Cement and the final regulatory approvals from SEC, the NSE, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Federal High Court.
Government irregularities reported into setting up of plants by DG Khan and Bestway Cement in Chakwal 16 October 2018
Pakistan: A report issued by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Lahore (ACE) to the Supreme Court has found irregularities committed by government departments in connection to the setting up of cement plants by DG Khan and Bestway Cement in Chakwal. The investigation followed a probe by the Supreme Court into water usage by cement companies near the Katas Raj Temples, according to the Dawn newspaper. The allegations include a delay by the district government of Chakwal, industries, environment, mine and mineral departments into declaring so-called ‘negative’ areas that would have otherwise prevented the plants being built between 2003 and 2008. Other findings of the report include irregularities into how both companies acquired land and a disregard for environmental protocol.
OCL India and Dalmia Bharat merger moves ahead 16 October 2018
India: The proposed merger between OCL India and Dalmia Cement East has been approved by the board of directors of OCL India. Following the amalgamation the company will be known as OCL India.
CIFA celebrates 90th anniversary 16 October 2018
Italy: CIFA has celebrated its 90th anniversary with an update to the company museum, the launch of a special edition vehicle-mounted pump and a series of special events. The museum, based at the company headquarters in Senago, has introduced news areas dedicated to hybrid technology and carbon fibres. The special edition pump products are available for the K42L, K45H and the new K47H models and include special anniversary colours, celebratory plaques and a 90th anniversary logo. The company was specialises in concrete pumps was originally founded on 7 July 1928 by Carlo Ausenda.