September 2024
Germany: Siemens has obtained a cybersecurity certification from TÜV SÜD, a German inspection and certification organisation, for an automation system based on IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-3-3. As part of the certification TÜV SÜD tested and verified the security functions implemented in the Simatic PCS 7 process control system, a system that controls and monitors continuous manufacturing processes, such as those in cement plants. With this certificate, the company has documented its security approach to automation products showing integrators and operators some of its industrial security measures.
Simatic PCS 7 provides functions for industrial security including segmentation into zones and security cells, the security of access points and user authentication, secure communication, patch management, system hardening, virus scanners and whitelisting. The security measures and functions for Simatic PCS 7 contribute toward safeguarding plant operation and avoiding plant downtime and outage times.
Wagners seeks buyer for cement terminal 23 November 2016
Australia: Wagners is attempting to sell its cement terminal in Queensland for up to US$150m. The unit has been on the market previously, according to the Australian newspaper. The Australian firm started with divisions in concrete, quarrying and transport and has since diversified into cement, fly-ash, lime and other products.
Cambodia Capital Mineral Resources proposes new cement plant 23 November 2016
Cambodia: Cambodia Capital Mineral Resources, a Chinese owned company, and the Ministry of Mines and Energy has met to discuss building a new cement plant. The ministry intends to seek government support before the company begins a feasibility study, according to the Khmer Times.
The ministry estimates that domestic demand for cement will reach 5Mt/yr in 2017. In December 2015 Chip Mong Group signed a partnership with Chinese-owned CITIC Heavy Industries to build a US$262m cement plant in Kampot province, with a daily production capacity of 5000t/day. In June 2016 Thai Siam Cement Group invested US$120m in a second production line at its factory in Kampot province, which will increase production to 0.9Mt/yr.
Holcim Colombia to build grinding plant 23 November 2016
Colombia: Holcim Colombia is planning to build a 0.5Mt/yr grinding plant at Buga in the Valle del Cauca department. The project will have an investment of US$32m, according to the New Century newspaper. The site for the new plant was chosen for both local demand and its proximity to the port of Buenaventura. Construction work on the unit will start immediately and the plant will be launched in the first quarter of 2018. It is expected to create up to 180 jobs when operational.
HC Trading and Interbulk Trading merge operations 23 November 2016
Germany: HC Trading and Interbulk Trading have merged their operations to form HC Trading, following the acquisition of Italcementi by HeidelbergCement. The merger will continue the group’s international trading activities, specialising in cement, clinker, coal and petroleum-coke by expanding the trade network and improving its position in the market. The total turnover of the new trading company will be around US$1.4bn.
“We trust that, by having an enlarged geographic reach as well as an expanded product portfolio, we will be able to further enhance our efficiency to better serve the market and our business partners,” said Emir Adiguzel, the chief executive officer of HC Trading. He added that the group intends to use idle capacity from former Italcementi plants to meet demands from import facilities in Africa, North America and South East Asia.
Otmar Hubscher appointed CEO of Secil 23 November 2016
Brazil: Otmar Hubscher has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Secil. He replaces Gonçalo Salazar Leite, according to the Negócios newspaper. Hubscher, a Swiss national, was previously the head of LafargeHolcim's Brazilian operations.
Cement consumption in Russia falls by 10.9% so far in 2016 22 November 2016
Russia: Cement consumption has fallen by 10.9% year-on-year to 44.3Mt in the first nine months of 2016 from 49.8Mt in the same period in 2015. The biggest decreases occurred on the Central, Volga, Siberian and North-Western federal districts, according to data from the Russian Cement Association (CMPRO) and the Russian Construction journal. Cement production has fallen by 10.9% to 43.5Mt from 48.9Mt. The falls in consumption and production have been blamed on a poor construction market although the residential sector picked up slightly in the third quarter of 2016.
India to take 20% hit in cement demand due to demonetisation 22 November 2016
India: Demonetisation policy is expected to reduce cement demand by 15 – 20% until the end of 2016. It will then reduce growth by 3% in the last quarter of the Indian financial year that runs until the end of March 2017, according to a report by Deutsche Bank Markets Research. It added that investors forecast the drop in short-term demand to be ‘severe.’
Research Analyst Chockalingam Narayanan said that he expected demand from infrastructure projects to partially offset weakness in the residential sector. However, investment towards these projects may be impaired where the revenue comes from state government. These bodies rely on up to 10% of their revenue from the property sector that may be adversely effected by demonetisation. Local bodies are responsible for projects such as rural roads, urban development projects, affordable housing, irrigation and more. Larger road and railway budgets are mostly controlled by central government agencies and are expected to be less effected.
All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association warns of risk of coal price to industry 21 November 2016
Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has expressed concern over the effect that rises in the price of coal have had on the cost of cement production. Coal prices have nearly doubled to US$105/t from US$54/t in May 2016, according to the Nation newspaper. The cost of coal contributes more than 30% to the total production cost of cement manufacture. Coal prices have been rising since May 2016 when China started to limit its coal mining capacity. This has since been compounded by stricter local rules on coal transportation in Pakistan. The APCMA has urged the government to focus on the residential sector to diversify the construction industry.
Shree Cement denies links to Shiva Cement deal 21 November 2016
India: Shree Cement has denied that it is in talks to buy a majority stake in Shiva Cement describing media reports as ‘purely speculative.’ Local media had reported that Shree was considering buying Shiva for around US$0.22/share.
Shiva Cement has a 0.2Mt/yr cement plant near Rourkela in Sundergarh district in Odisha with on-going plans to upgrade the site to 1Mt/yr. The company also has captive limestone reserves in the area and produces both Sumangal