05 April 2022

Egypt: Sinai Cement’s consolidated sales were US$78.9m in 2021, up by 62% year-on-year from US$48.7m in 2020. The company recorded a loss of US$19.4m, down by 37% year-on-year from US$30.7m in 2020.

Saudi Arabia: Yamama Cement has signed a US$443m financing agreement with Saudi National Bank (SNB). The company plans to invest the funds in its relocation of a 10,000t/day kiln line to its Northern Halal, Al Kharj, plant from the site of its former plant in Riyadh. This will help towards its aim of increasing the Northern Halal plant’s capacity to 30,000t/day by 2025. The loan consists of US$213m in long-term financing for a period of eight years, US$150m in refinancing of the long-term funding for a duration of four years and US$80m in short-term financing for one year.

Malawi: The Germany-based Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has launched the construction of a clay calcination plant in Malawi, called the Limestone Calcined Clay Project. The Nyasa Times newspaper has reported that the government has said that increased calcined clay use can reduce domestic cement production’s carbon footprint by a third.

France: Sustainable concrete producer Materrup has shared plans for its upcoming Bordeaux precast concrete elements plant. The L’Usine Nouvelle newspaper has reported that the facility will produce precast elements from Materrup’s cement-free concrete, which it produces from uncalcined clay, an activator and a precursor at room temperature. The technology, called Clay Cement 1 (MCC1), reduces CO₂ emissions by 50 – 80% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), according to the producer. It previously opened a Euro7m 50,000t/yr plant in the Atlantisub Business Area in Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

UK: Cemex UK has announced the global launch of its OnPoint coloured cement mortars for off-site and urban architectural applications. The range includes 35 colour palette options.

Europe regional mortars sales manager Mike May said “On heritage projects, we can now accurately colour-match existing mortars for repointing and maintenance work. Our existing buildings account for more than 35% of the world’s energy consumption, so solutions like Cemex OnPoint can significantly contribute to a more efficient built environment and a better future for all.”