September 2024
Shanxi introduces water metering standards for cement producers 05 December 2017
China: Shanxi province has introduced water metering rules for industrial users, including cement producers. Under the new regulations, reported upon by Reuters, Xinhua and the local Development and Reform Commission, companies that exceed mandatory water usage standards will have to pay incremental charges. The levies range from doubling the cost of water if usage exceeds levels by less than 20%, to five times the cost and the threat of cutting off of water supplies if usage standards are exceeded by more than 60%. The province also has a target to cut its dust pollution by 40% over the winter.
Adelaide Brighton signs gas and electricity deals 05 December 2017
Australia: Adelaide Brighton has signed new gas and electricity contracts in South Australia. It has entered into an agreement with Beach Energy for the supply of gas to its South Australian operations. It has also entered into an agreement with Infigen Energy for the supply of its electricity requirements to the Birkenhead and Angaston cement plants and Klein Point Quarry on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. The new agreements are intended to manage the company’s energy requirements and costs following a series of blackouts in the region.
The cement producer said that its energy strategy includes: a portfolio approach to energy supply and procurement benefits; consumption management and operational efficiency; the aim of obtaining 30% of energy supply from alternative fuels in the medium term; use of alternative cementitious materials in place of more energy intensive products; cost recovery through vertical integration and long term customer relationships; and financial strategies.
Mining ministry and BUA Group argue over mining dispute 05 December 2017
Nigeria: The head of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has publicly rebutted accusations by Abdulsamad Rabiu, the chief executive officer (CEO) of BUA Group, that the ministry and Dangote Cement have ‘sabotaged’ operations at the company. Rabiu made the allegations in a letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the This Day newspaper.
Rabiu says that the rival cement company and the ministry colluded in a legal dispute about operations at Okpella in Edo State and mineral resources. Allegedly, a militia attempted to damage the cement plant before security forces intervened. Later government officials and police tried to stop work at a BUA Cement mine despite on-going legal action.
Mohammed Abass, the head of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, responded by describing Rabiu’s accusations as, “…an unwarranted campaign of calumny against the ministry.” He added that the cement company was attempting to blackmail the ministry into granting a ‘free pass’ for illegal operations. The ministry says that it issued a Stop Work Order for the disputed mine in 2015 but that BUA Group ignored it and has continued to work at the site whilst the legal case was pending. Later, the staff of BUA Group resisted an attempt to shut the site down in mid-November 2017.
Dangote Cement to sell cement online with Jumia 05 December 2017
Nigeria: Dangote Cement has signed a deal with retail firm Jumia Nigeria to sell cement online. Individual and corporate customers can buy a minimum of 300 bags of 50kg of Dangote Cement and have them delivered via the new service. The pilot initiative will cover Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja at launch.
“Dangote Cement decided to work with Jumia Nigeria based on its credibility and excellent performance over the years in online shopping management,” said Dangote Cement, Key Account Director, Chux Mogbolu. He added that the new scheme is intended to help stop online scams selling cement.
Cooperativa Boliviana de Cemento, Industrias y Servicios orders cement mill from FLSmidth 04 December 2017
Bolivia: Cooperativa Boliviana de Cemento, Industrias y Servicios (COBOCE) has ordered an OK 43-4 vertical cement mill from FLSmidth for its Irpa Irpa plant near Cochabamba. The unit will have a production capacity of 130t/hr. The order includes a complete range of equipment from mill feeding bins, grinding and cement transport. FLSmidth will also supply equipment from its product brands, such as planetary gear units from FLSmidth MAAG Gear, fabric filters from FLSmidth Airtech, a control system and plant automation from FLSmidth Automation.
“We are proud to deliver the first cement vertical roller mill to COBOCE making it the third out of five Bolivian suppliers choosing our cement vertical roller mill technology. This order underlines FLSmidth’s strong position in Bolivia,” said Per Mejnert Kristensen, Group Executive Vice President, Cement Division.
Kizilkumcement completes energy saving upgrades 04 December 2017
Uzbekistan: Kizilkumcement has upgraded its grinding separation process with five ZH15000-5-7 compressor units manufactured by Atlas Copco. Each of the new three-stage centrifugal air compressors has a capacity of 250m3. Energy saving aspects of the project include reducing the installed capacity of the compressor from 1600kW to 1400kW; electricity savings due to automatic capacity control, and accordingly the compressor power consumption when changing the compressed air flow rate at the output; and reduction of pressure loss in the pipeline by reducing the length of the duct by decentralising the compressor station and installing new compressors near the consumer of compressed air.
Tanzania: Industry, Trade and Investment minister Charles Mwijage says that senior officials from the Treasury and Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) are finalising talks with China’s Sinoma and Hengya Cement about building a US$1bn cement plant in the Mkinga District, Tanga Region. The discussions are focusing on incentives to be offered to the investors and the location of a jetty, according to the Citizen newspaper. The plant will have an initial cement production capacity of 2.5Mt/yr with an eventual target of 7Mt/yr following further investment. Future plans also include generating 1200MW of electricity at the site. The overall cost of the expanded project is forecast to be US$2bn.
LafargeHolcim launches Binastore retail network in Madagascar 04 December 2017
Madagascar: LafargeHolcim has launched a local franchise of its Binastore retail network at Tsaralalàna. The initiative has signed up 72 local firms, according to the L'Express de Madagascar. The building materials producer expanded its retail network in the Middle East and Africa in June 2017. It also operates a cement plant at Ibity near Antsirabe.
Ireland: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has started legal action against Irish Cement’s for alleged breaches of its operating licence at its Limerick plant. A court summons is related to dust ‘blowouts’ from the plant, according to the Limerick Leader newspaper. The case is scheduled to come before the Limerick District Court in early March 2018. The EPA investigated dust emissions from the plant in April 2017.
Sandvik completes the divestment of Sandvik Process Systems 04 December 2017
Sweden: Sandvik has completed the sale of its Sandvik Process Systems division to asset management company FAM AB. The divestment has agreed for around Euro500m in June 2017. Sandvik Process Systems manufactures industrial process solutions based on steel belts, steel belt based equipment and process solutions within adjacent technologies.