17 March 2021
Uzbekistan government suspends cement tariffs 17 March 2021
Uzbekistan: The government has suspended tariffs on cement imports from all countries until 1 October 2021. The UzDaily newspaper has reported that the suspension is part of a raft of measures aimed at ‘providing the population with housing’ by bolstering construction. The measures consist of funding for multi-story housing developments, a separate trading exchange for cement and the roll-out of a new standard design for residential buildings from 1 May 2021.
India: The Supreme Court has ruled that depository and clearing agent IL&FS Securities Services (ISSL) release US$52.4m to Dalmia Cement owner Dalmia Bharat. The money was alleged stolen by Allied Financial Services in 2019, according to the Economic Times newspaper. The trial concerning the alleged theft of mutual fund units continues.
UK: Germany-based HeidelbergCement subsidiary Hanson has received the green light for its planned carbon capture and storage (CCS) study at its Padeswood cement plant in Flintshire after its partner, the HyNet North West consortium received Euro84m in funding. The study will support a design basis and cost estimate for a carbon capture unit at the cement plant and a connection to the planned HyNet North West CO2 transport and storage system. Euro46m of the funding came from consortium partners while Euro38m came from a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge grant.
Hanson chief executive officer Simon Willis said, “Today’s funding announcement is fantastic news for everyone involved in HyNet North West. Cutting CO2 emissions is a key priority for us, and we are excited to be one of the first UK cement producers working on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as part of this collaborative project.” He added, “We’ve taken big steps towards reducing carbon emissions and have set ourselves an ambitious target of achieving a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, based on 1990 levels, and net zero carbon concrete by 2050. CCS at cement plants is a key part of our roadmap to net zero.”
Aumund wins equipment contract for three new UltraTech Cement plants and six grinding plants 17 March 2021
India: UltraTech Cement has selected Germany-based Aumund to supply conveyors, elevators and feeders for its ‘Project Spring’ expansion project to increase its installed production capacity to 130Mt/yr of cement from 117Mt/yr.
The expansion project includes three integrated cement production units in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, each with capacities of up to 10,000t/day. For these kiln lines, Aumund India will supply clinker cooler extraction conveyors as well as the transfer conveyors to the clinker silos. Six cement grinding plants in various locations in India are also part of the capacity expansion plans.
Aumund will supply six pan conveyors, 11 Samson material feeders and 68 bucket elevators including up to 157m-high kiln feed bucket elevators, up to 2200t/hr roller press recirculation bucket elevators and clinker and cement handling bucket elevators, among other products. The order is one of the largest to date for Aumund India.
Jidong Cement grows income and profits in 2020 17 March 2021
China: Jidong Cement’s operating income rose by 3% year-on-year to US$5.46bn in 2020 from US$5.31bn in 2019. Its net profit attributable to shareholders grew by 5.5% to US$438m from US$415m. The large-scale producer said that its clinker and cement production capacities reached 117Mt/yr and 170Mt/yr in the reporting period. It operates in Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Chongqing and Henan with a focus in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
UK: Breedon Group’s revenue remained stable in 2020 at Euro1.08bn. Its underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell by 34% year-on-year to Euro89.3m in 2020 from Euro136m in 2019. Cement sales volumes stayed stable at 2Mt but ready-mixed concrete sales volumes dropped by 13% to 2.6Mm3 from 3Mm3. The group reported a strong second half of 2020 following coronavirus-related disruption.
“Although we remain mindful of the ongoing impact of Covis-19, with the worst of the pandemic now hopefully behind us and some welcome clarity on Brexit, I believe the prospects for Breedon and for our industry are increasingly positive,” said Pat Ward, Breedon Group’s chief executive.
European Parliament backs carbon tax on selected imports 17 March 2021
Europe: Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have adopted a resolution supporting a European Union (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). If enacted by the EU then a carbon tax could be levied on certain goods imported from outside the EU that don’t meet local decarbonisation standards. MEPs stressed that it should be World Trade Organisation compatible and not be misused as a tool to enhance protectionism.
The new mechanism is intended to be part of a broader EU industrial strategy and cover all imports of products and commodities covered by the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). MEPs add that already by 2023, and following an impact assessment, it should cover the power sector and energy-intensive industrial sectors like cement, steel, aluminium, oil refinery, paper, glass, chemicals and fertilisers, which continue to receive substantial free allocations, and still represent 94% of EU industrial emissions.
“The CBAM is a great opportunity to reconcile climate, industry, employment, resilience, sovereignty and relocation issues. We must stop being naïve and impose the same carbon price on products, whether they are produced in or outside the EU, to ensure the most polluting sectors also take part in fighting climate change and innovate towards zero carbon. This is our best chance of remaining below the 1.5°C warming limit, whilst also pushing our trading partners to be equally ambitious in order to enter the EU market,” said EU Parliament rapporteur Yannick Jadot.
The European Commission is expected to present a legislative proposal on a CBAM in the second quarter of 2021 as part of the European Green Deal as well as a proposal on how to include the revenue generated to finance part of the EU budget.
Cementos Argos to launch Argos Green Solutions 17 March 2021
Colombia: Cementos Argos will hold the virtual launch of Argos Green Solutions on 17 March 2021. The company will use the group to set out its vision of innovation to build a sustainable future. President Juan Esteban Calle and sustainability vice president María Isabel Echeverri will host the event.