18 May 2023

Iraq: Najmat Al Samawa Company for Cement Manufacturing (NASCCM) plans to build a new 1.82Mt/yr clinker line at its Samawa cement plant. When commissioned, the new line will more than double the plant's clinker capacity to 3Mt/yr. Pakistan Company News has reported that the expanded plant will secure a supply of clinker for the producer's Basra grinding plant.

NASCCM is a joint venture of Al Shumookh Group and Pakistan-based Lucky Cement.

UK: Aggregate Industries, Breedon, Lhoist and Tarmac have announced the launch of the Peak Cluster, a carbon capture and storage cluster of cement and lime plants. The partners aim to eliminate 3Mt/yr of emissions from operations across their plants in Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire by capturing 100% of their CO₂ emissions. Progressive Energy will oversee the capture and transportation of CO₂ from the plants for storage below the Irish Sea. Possible storage partners for the cluster are Liverpool Bay CCS or the upcoming Morecambe Net Zero storage project. When operational, the Peak Cluster will eliminate 40% of emissions from UK cement and lime production. Participating cement plants are Aggregate Industries' 1Mt/yr Cauldon cement plant in Staffordshire, Breedon's 1.5Mt/yr Hope plant in Derbyshire and Tarmac's 0.8Mt/yr Tunstead plant in Derbyshire.

Mineral Products Association (MPA) energy and climate change director Diana Casey said “The launch of the Peak Cluster is an exciting and vital step forward in the journey of the cement and lime sectors towards net zero. The region is a historic heartland for cement and lime production providing highly skilled jobs for local communities, and a secure supply of essential materials to the UK economy." She concluded "The UK Concrete and Cement Industry Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero highlighted the importance of carbon capture for the decarbonisation of the cement and concrete supply chain, and the Peak Cluster is an essential part of that transition. This launch demonstrates the commitment of cement and lime producers to transition to net zero to secure the future of these important industries, and the vital products they produce, in a net zero world.”

US: Heidelberg Materials North America has secured funding for a feasibility study for a 2Mt/yr carbon capture installation at its Mitchell cement plant in Indiana. The study will also investigate possible storage and utilisation solutions for a future installation. The producer says that the US government's Department of Energy has pledged US$5m in funding towards the US$10m study.

Heidelberg Materials North America president and CEO Chris Ward said “We are pleased for this additional federal funding to help move our Mitchell carbon capture project forward. Heidelberg Materials recognises the significant role that carbon capture will play in achieving its goal of net zero carbon, and we are very excited to take the next steps in exploring this technology at our new cement plant in Mitchell.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidad Cements' sales were US$309.6m in 2022, up by 9% year-on-year. Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 19% to US$77.0m. The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper has reported that the producer recorded a US$16.1m loss during the fourth quarter of the year. The producer attributed this to a weather-related drop in cement demand across its markets, as well as restructuring costs for its Barbados-based subsidiary Arawak Cement.

Trinidad Cement chair David Inglefield and managing director Francisco Aguilera Mendoza said "We will ensure that our operations remain resilient by continuing effective cost management initiatives to maximise value in this challenging economic environment. Additionally, we expect improved productivity and efficiency of our equipment on completion of major planned maintenance in 2023."

UK: John King Group has acquired valve manufacturer DAB Valves for an undisclosed amount. DAB Valves sells a variety of valves and associated equipment within their range from slide and butterfly valves to gravity flap diverter valves and drop out boxes. The 40-year old company is based near Parwich in Derbyshire.

David Wadworth the managing director of John King Group, said “In acquiring DAB Valves we have added a complementary range of products to the existing John King Group portfolio. We are delighted to announce that DAB Valves
will continue to be manufactured in our Yorkshire based factory where we have a full complement of machinery to be effective in this objective. We are delighted to harness our production capabilities with the on-going support of Bob Wright and the DAB Valves design team who have over 40 years of industrial and applicational expertise.”

Bob Wright, the managing director and owner of DAB Valves, added, “Selling the business to John King Group is an exciting one. Yes, it frees up some of my time and enables me to focus on what I love the most, which is the design and engineering of the Valves. Having John King Group ambitious team behind DAB Valves, I know will take the brand to the next level. You only have to visit their Leeds manufacturing site to feel the energy and hunger for success, along with their continued reinvestment in equipment and people.”

John King Group says that its purchase of the DAB Valves brand will further strengthen its global support network and in-house design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

Vietnam: Nghi Son Cement Corporation has despatched its first batch of cement to customers in the US. The shipment consisted of 31,500t of cement produced at the company's Thanh Hoa cement plant. Việt Nam News has reported that the producer moved into the US market due to declining cement demand domestically.

Nghi Son Cement Corporation is a joint venture of Vietnam Cement Corporation (Vicem), Japan-based Taiheiyo Cement and Japan-based Mitsubishi Materials.