05 September 2024

India: Indian cement manufacturers plan to invest approximately US$14.3bn over the next four years to increase capacity by 25%, adding 160-170Mt/yr of cement production, reports the Times of Oman newspaper. This expansion is reportedly driven by rising domestic demand and a significant infrastructure push by the government, with plans to invest US$1.7tn in infrastructure projects by 2030. The industry aims to fund this growth primarily through internal accruals, reducing reliance on debt. The top three producers —Ultratech, Ambuja, and Shree Cement — will reportedly contribute over 70% of the total capacity increase.

Algeria: Germany-based motor manufacturer Menzel Elektromotoren supplied a fan motor for an Algerian cement plant. According to the company, the replacement was for a failed slip ring motor, and was manufactured and delivered within 13 weeks. The motor was a MEBSSL-type 6-pole slip ring motor in frame size 630, with a rated output of 1950kW, an operating voltage of 11,000V and a rated torque of 18,754Nm.

Vietnam: Fico Tay Ninh Cement has launched ‘green-labelled’ cement with CO₂ emissions between 350-600kg/t, 70% lower than traditional Portland cement, according to Tuoi Tre News. Director of Fico Tay Ninh Cement, Nguyen Cong Bao, said that the company has invested in automated production lines and research and development to produce this ‘eco-friendly’ cement, aiming to offer it at competitive prices due to cost-saving technologies.

In addition, SCG Concrete Roof Company has introduced its own ‘green’ cement to the local market, reducing carbon emissions by 20% during production compared to traditional Portland cement.

Vietnam: Vietnam's cement sector anticipates minimal impact from the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) as exports to the EU account for less than 2% of total sales, according to the Vietnam News Brief Service. However, Luong Duc Long, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Cement Association, remains alert to potential changes in emission thresholds that could incur additional taxes. Currently, the country’s cement sector emits 700 - 750kg/t of CO₂, with goals to reduce this to 650kg/t by 2030 and to 550kg/t by 2050 through technological advancements like rotary kilns and AI, as well as the use of alternative fuels and waste management solutions.