24 September 2024
Attack at Cruz Azul cement plant leads to 20 people injured 24 September 2024
Mexico: A violent attempt by 300 people to take over the Cruz Azul cement plant in Tula, Hidalgo, led to around 20 people injured, eight seriously. The attackers were reportedly armed with machetes and firearms, with confrontations at the plant resulting in two people shot, Noticias Financieras News has reported. 120 people have been detained for prosecution. The dispute dates back to 2018 and stems from two groups disputing the company’s assets, with organised crime reportedly used at other plants. Cooperativa Cruz Azul affirmed that it had no relation to the attacks and urged the authorities to reestablish legal order.
In a statement, it said "Cooperativa La Cruz Azul reiterates its commitment to collaborate with the authorities for the benefit of the development of the Hidalgo community, as has been done to date in other states and municipalities of the Mexican Republic.”
Qatar unveils ‘green’ cement from sewage waste 24 September 2024
Qatar: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has organised a symposium to launch a new ‘green’ cement made from sewage waste, with aims to support environmental sustainability and the circular economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The symposium highlighted the role of scientific research in transforming sewage into green cement. The cement is produced by treating sludge, resulting from solid sewage waste by burning, grinding and mixing it with catalysts, then is practically applied in the manufacture of building blocks and foam concrete. The amount of accumulated sewage waste is estimated at about 40,000t/yr, which can be used to produce 40 million bricks or 150,000m3/yr of foam concrete.
Poland: The Polish cement industry is under threat from increasing Ukrainian cement imports, which have risen by 106% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, according to Warsaw Business Journal. These imports, making up 91% of all cement imports into Poland, could exceed 500,000t by the end of 2024. Despite a projected 3.6% rise in domestic production to 17.2Mt, the competition from lower-cost Ukrainian cement, not subject to EU climate regulations, threatens Poland's economy and job market.
Cement production cut in North, Central and East India 24 September 2024
India: Cement producers in North, Central and East India have reduced production by 10-15% in the second quarter of 2024 due to low demand and project delays after an extended monsoon, according to The Hindu Business Line. Clinker utilisation stands at 70-75% for the quarter, down from around 80% during April – June 2024. South India remains comparatively unaffected.
South Korea to import Chinese cement 24 September 2024
South Korea: Due to high prices of cement, the government has announced plans to import Chinese cement, which is reportedly about 15% cheaper than domestically produced cement. The preparations to import it, including certification and the construction of storage warehouses, will take about two years.
19th Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories announces call for papers 24 September 2024
World: The 19th Biennial Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories (UNITECR) has announced its call for papers for its event taking on 27 - 30 October 2025 in Cancun, Mexico. The deadline for abstracts is 20 December 2024. The meeting is being hosted by the Latin American Association of Refractories Manufacturers (ALAFAR).
Mauro Cueva, the president of UNITECR 2025, said “I invite speakers from around the world to grab the wonderful chance we offer to be at the heart of this prestigious forum for the international refractories community. Please become part of our roster for 2025 and take this fantastic opportunity to boost the knowledge base from within your own particular discipline. There will be a dynamic, receptive audience in Cancun, eager to listen, to learn, and to network. We would really love you to be part of this story.”
UNITECR held its first event in 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. The most recent outing took place in in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2023. The event, hosted by the German Refractory Association, featured over 200 speakers and more than 1100 participants in total.
For more information visit: www.unitecr2025.com/call-for-papers