19 May 2022

India: JK Lakshmi Cement’s full-year consolidated sales were US$697m in its 2022 financial year, up by 14.6% year-on-year from US$608m in the 2021 financial year. The group’s net profit was US$61.5m, up by 13.4% from US$54.2m.

The producer said "Despite unabated increases in petcoke and diesel prices, which are hovering at all-time high, JK Lakshmi Cement was able to achieve healthy profitability through continuous improvements in operational efficiencies, energy costs, better product mixes and higher volumes."

Zimbabwe: Livetouch Investments plans to invest US$100m in the construction of an integrated cement plant. The Herald Zimbabwe newspaper has reported that the group plans to establish the new facility in phases, with the first phase costing US$15 – 20m. The phase will include the exploration of possible locations for the plant with suitable limestone resources, which could then also supply its Redcliff grinding plant. The grinding plant currently imports 4000t/yr of Zambian clinker and also buys raw materials from Lafarge Zimbabwe.

Managing director Kyle Wang said “We are still limited by the limestone resources in the country.” He said that the company has identified ‘good limestone deposits’ in Rushinga, Nyamapanda, Bulawayo and Masvingo, however “The problem with some of the limestone is the quality.”

Kuwait: Kuwait Portland Cement more than doubled its sales year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, to US$107m from US$45m in first quarter of 2021. The company’s net profit also rose, by 69% to US$7.18m from US$4.24m.

France: The Court of Appeals has confirmed a charge of complicity in crimes against humanity against Lafarge, now part of Holcim. The company will now appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The confirmation establishes the scope of the charges that Lafarge will face, if unsuccessful in its appeal.

Global Cement previously reported that Lafarge allegedly made indirect payments to terror organisation ISIS between 2011 and 2014 in order to keep its Jalabiya cement plant operational during the Syrian Civil War. French prosecutors opened an investigation into the company’s activities in the country in June 2017, leading to its indictment for complicity in crimes against humanity on 28 June 2018.

Germany: The World Economic Forum and US State Department have welcomed HeidelbergCement as the newest member of the First Movers Coalition. Founded in 2021, the coalition brings together companies across multiple industrial sectors to coordinate the creation of demand for emerging reduced-CO₂ production technologies. As part of its membership, HeidelbergCement commits to purchasing zero-emission vehicles for 30% of new heavy-duty truck purchases and 100% of medium-duty truck purchases by 2030.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said “I welcome HeidelbergCement to the First Movers Coalition, and its commitment to purchasing zero-emissions trucking solutions that the world must focus on scaling up over this critical decade. The First Movers Coalition is a critical pillar of the world's efforts to advance breakthrough zero emissions technologies to decarbonise many of the largest sectors of the global economy and to put us on a track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”

India: Dalmia Bharat Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bokaro Steel Plant for the training of 600 new young people from Bokaro every year. Under the initiative, the partners will run short, placement-based courses at the DIKSHa (Dalmia Institute of Knowledge and Skill Harnessing) centre.

Dalmia Bharat Foundation CEO and Dalmia Bharat group head - corporate social responsibility Vishal Bhardwaj said “Since our inception in 2009, we’ve witnessed our role gradually transform from being a resource provider to a key enabler for positive change in society. While we’ve created a legacy of development and change for the better, we continue to strive to ensure that we meet newer economic and environmental needs and close wider societal gaps as much as possible.”