02 September 2021
JK Cement to invest US$410m to expand capacity to 23Mt/yr by 2023 02 September 2021
India: JK Cement plans to invest a total of US$410m in two new cement plant projects to expand its total production capacity to 23Mt/yr from 15Mt/yr. The Economic Times newspaper has reported that the company is in the process of establishing a 2Mt/yr integrated plant at Panna in Madhya Pradesh. It is in the process of establishing a second new integrated plant at Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh, also with a capacity of 2Mt/yr. Both plants are scheduled for commissioning in 2023. The investments aim to increase the company’s presence in the northern and central Indian cement markets. 12Mt/yr of its current capacity is located in the region, compared to 3.0Mt/yr in the south.
Chief executive officer Madhav Singhania said “While the northern market is very attractive in terms of demand and capacity utilisation, we have the capabilities to become a market leader in the central region."
In 2020, JK Cement’s average capacity utilisation was between 75% and 80%.
India’s new waste heat recovery units total 175MW in 2021 and 2022 financial years 02 September 2021
India: The total new waste heat recovery (WHR) unit capacity of cement producers is expected to reach 175MW in the two years ending on 31 March 2022. Rating agency ICRA has valued the total investment in new WHR units over the period as up to US$230m, according to the Press Trust of India. A market report by ICRA reports that power generation using WHR costs around US$0.02/kWh compared to US$0.7/kWh from a captive coal power plant. Cement companies that replace 25% of total power capacity with WHR can potentially save around 15% from existing power costs.
Ambuja Cement saves 70Ml of water with rainwater harvesting systems 02 September 2021
India: Ambuja Cement has saved 70Ml of water since the beginning of 2020 through the installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems at 268 construction sites across India.
Neeraj Akhoury, the chief executive officer of Ambuja Cement, said "The scope and opportunities for creating a sustainable future are immense. As part of the global organisation, Holcim, Ambuja Cement's ambition is to be a part of the solution to the sustainability challenges faced today. I am pleased with the progress that we have made through our efforts, and we will continue to put into action bolder plans for emission reduction, resource optimisation and water conservation to build a sustainable India."
Turkish builders down tools in protest against high cement prices 02 September 2021
Turkey: Builders have declared a one-day ‘strike’ on 2 September 2021 to protest against high cement prices. The Turkish Builders Confederation (IMKON) told the government that, though the prices of all commodities rose following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cement price rise is disproportionate, according to the Dünya newspaper. Producers responded that they have recorded sharp increases in input prices. Electricity costs rose by 64% year-on-year in July 2021, while coal costs more than doubled over the same period.
Prison sentences for former Iraqi Cement executive and general manager 02 September 2021
Iraq: The Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has sentenced former Iraqi Cement executive director Baha Abed and general manager Ali Hadi to six years in prison. According to the National Iraqi News Agency, Abed appointed Hadi as general manager in exchange for Hadi referring the company’s equipment contracts to Abed’s own companies.