September 2024
Nepal: The value of clinker imported from India into Nepal has risen by 674% year-on-year to US$60.5m in the first four months of the local financial year that started on 16 July 2016 from US$7.8m from the same period in the previous year, according to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre. Dhruba Raj Thapa, president of Cement Manufacturers Association of Nepal, in comments to the Himalayan Times attributed the surge to a lack of raw materials, including limestone, which has forced producers to import clinker from India. He added that government restrictions on opening new mines have restricted the local industry's ability to produce its own clinker.
China Resources Cement enters into strategic agreement with BBMG 20 December 2016
China: China Resources Cement and BBMG Corporation have entered into a strategic co-operation agreement. According to the agreement the companies shall jointly explore Chinese and overseas markets and promote technology for the industry. Both parties intend to create a 'market communications mechanism' to share information on the market, production and technology. China Resources Cement previously signed a similar agreement with Anhui Conch in July 2016, although that agreement subsequently fell apart.
CBMI wins contract to build grinding plant for Cimencam 20 December 2016
Cameroon: CBMI has signed a contract with LafargeHolcim to build a 0.5Mt/yr cement grinding plant in Yaoundé. The project will be built for Cimencam, LafargeHolcim's joint venture in the country. No value for the deal was disclosed.
The scope of the project covers clinker feeding to cement packing and shipping. The contract will come into force after being signed, receiving of guarantees and CBMI’s receiving advance payments. Contract periods are 18 months after contracts coming into force to complete industrial tests, and 19 months to commissioning.
It follows the announcement in mid-December 2016 of grinding plant projects in Uganda and Kenya.
Mine Safety and Health Administration blames management of Ash Grove Cement for fatal accident at Midlothian plant 19 December 2016
US: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has blamed the management of Ash Grove Cement’s policies, procedures and controls for the death of a worker at its Midlothian cement plant in May 2016. Roderick Barnes, a maintenance worker aged 46 years, died from a fall from the top of a slurry tank. In its report on the incident the MSHA said that the cement producer failed to provide protection around openings through which workers could fall and that that it failed to use fall prevention and protection devices. The MSHA has issued five citations for violations of the Mine Act is relation to the event.
Bua Group to hit 10Mt/yr cement production via upgrades 19 December 2016
Nigeria: Bua Group plans to reach a cement production capacity of 10Mt/yr via upgrade projects at its Edo and Sokoto plants by the end of 2018, according to its chairman and chief executive officer Abdul Salman Rabiu. He made the comments to local press at the company's 2016 annual customer forum and awards ceremony in Abuja.
Sinoma to supply waste heat recovery plant for Fauji Cement 19 December 2016
Pakistan: Sinoma Energy Conservation Company has signed an agreement with Fauji Cement to install a 7.6MW waste heat recovery (WHR) plant. The agreement was signed by Sardar Mahmood Ali Khan, Director-General of Fauji Cement and officials of Sinoma in Rawalpindi, according to the Nation newspaper. The power plant will be installed by the end of the first quarter of 2018. Once the project is complete the cement producer will be able to produce 80% of electricity requirements from captive sources. Previously Fauji Cement installed a 12MW WHR plant in early 2015.
Bosowa starts operation at grinding plant in East Java 19 December 2016
Indonesia: Bosowa Corporation has started operation at a 1.8Mt/yr cement grinding plant in Banyuwangi, East Java. The plant cost US$60m, according to the Jakarta Post. It will add to the 5.4Mt/yr of cement that Bosowa produces at its two plants on South Sulawesi and Riau Islands.
Tokyo Cement starts testing new mill at Trincomalee plant 19 December 2016
Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement has started testing a new mill at its cement grinding plant in Trincomalee. It held a ‘soft’ opening ceremony to mark the event on 8 December 2016. The new mill is the company’s fourth. It will start commercial operation in February 2017, according to Lanka Business. Once operational it will add 1Mt/yr to the company’s production total capacity taking it to 2.8Mt/yr.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Tadashi Matsunami, Director & Senior Managing Executive Officer of Ube Industries Limited, Japan, the technology services partner of Tokyo Cement. Harsha Cabral PC, chairman and SR Gnanam, managing director of Tokyo Cement also presided at the event.
An additional US$50m expansion drive at the site will see the commissioning of an 8MW captive biomass power unit for the plant. Tokyo Cement will also develop the shipping facilities at the site to accommodate larger vessels and it plans to build cement storage silos.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China signs US$720m debt-for-equity swap with Jindong Development 19 December 2016
China: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has agreed to a US$720m debt swap with Jindong Development Group. The bank will use a limited partnership fund to invest US$360m in the cement producer in the first phase of the transaction, according to Reuters. After the proposed swap is completed, Jindong Development's leverage ratio will fall by 8%.
Bolivia: FLSmidth has received an order from Fábrica Nacional de Cemento SA (FANCESA) for the supply of equipment to build a complete cement production line with a capacity of 2100t/day, including plant design, procurement and civil engineering services. The plant will be located in Sucre.
The order is valued at over US$75m. It includes a range of equipment from crushing to packing and loadout. Equipment ordered includes an ATOX 35.0 vertical mill for raw grinding, a ROTAX-2 rotary kiln with low NOx ILC calciner, a Cross-Bar 8x38 cooler and a OK 30 vertical mill for cement grinding. The order will be completed by the first quarter of 2018. FLSmidth's supply also includes equipment from product companies of FLSmidth, such as planetary gear units from FLSmidth MAAG Gear, fabric filters from FLSmidth Airtech, a packing plant from FLSmidth Ventomatic, control system and plant automation from FLSmidth Automation and weighing and metering systems from FLSmidth Pfister.
"The project underlines FLSmidth's strength as the leading supplier of the most productive and energy-efficient equipment and technology for the cement industry," said Group Executive Vice President, Cement Division, Per Mejnert Kristensen.