September 2024
Union accuses Cementos Charrua of dumping Turkish cement in Uruguay 08 November 2016
Uruguay: Fancap, the workers union of the Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcoholes y Portland (ANCAP), has criticised imports of cement produced in Turkey by Cementos Charrua. It says that these imports have been dumped in the country at lower than the local price of production, negatively impacting the local industry, according to the El Observador newspaper. Cement is allegedly imported from Turkey and then it is repackaged in bags with the Uruguayan brand for resale. Fancap has asked the government to reassess tariffs for cement imports. It says that these imports are affecting operations at both ANCAP and Cementos Artigas.
CORRECTION: This story originally mentioned Turkey's Çimsa Çimento in relation to Cementos Charrua. Çimsa says it has never been involved in any commercial cooperation with this company in Uruguay.
Raysut Cement reports progress on Somaliland project 08 November 2016
Somaliland: Raysut Cement is set to choose a contractor to build its cement terminal in Berbera. Soil investigation studies have been completed and the company is now about to choose an engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) contractor, according to a recent financial report. Once selected the construction of the plant is expected to take 12 months. The project is a joint-venture with Barwaaqo Cement Company that will build a 12,000t terminal for a cost of US$7.5m.
My Home Industries to build US$225m cement plant in Andhra Pradesh 08 November 2016
India: My Home Industries plans to build a 1.5Mt/yr cement plant at a cost of US$225m in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. The plant is intended to take advantage of demand for cement generated by construction at the new state capital of Amaravati, according to comments by S Sambasiva Rao, executive director of My Home Industries, made to the Hans newspaper. Groundbreaking at the 1000 acre site is planned for late 2017 and the plant will take up to three years to build.
My Home Industries is a joint-venture between India’s My Home Group and Ireland’s CRH. It has production capacity of 8.4Mt/yr from plants in Nalgonda district in Telangana and Kurnool and Visakhapatnam districts in Andhra Pradesh. It is currently building a 1.2Mt/yr plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
Market report places demand for materials handling equipment at US$1.6bn outside of China 07 November 2016
Spain: A market report examining the buying behaviour of the cement industry for materials handling systems has calculated that the market potential for relevant equipment comprises US$1.6bn, excluding China. The ‘Materials Handling Systems 2020’ report by OneStone Consulting analyses projects between 2013 and 2015 in 15 product categories for nine territories around the world. The product categories include crushers, stacker/reclaimers, apron and belt conveyors, belt and chain bucket elevators, pneumatic conveyors, dosing/weigh-feeding, storage systems, packers, palletisers, mechanical mixers and ship unloaders.
Switzerland: Members of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) have welcomed the Paris Agreement entering into force as a key milestone in establishing a stable regulatory framework to enable the business community to scale up the implementation of low-carbon solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The agreement, adopted on 12 December 2015, entered into force, 30 days after the date (5 October 2016) on which at least 55 parties to the convention (UNFCCC) accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
“Climate change is a global issue that no one can solve alone. The cement sector has been working collectively since 1999 on measuring and reporting its CO2 emissions while developing solutions for mitigation and adaptation through the CSI, that Cemex is currently chairing. We welcome the entry into force of the Paris agreement, that sets the long awaited regulatory framework to scale-up the implementation of these solutions and encourages further cooperation between private companies, policy makers and the financial community,” said Fernando Gonzalez, CEO of Cemex and current chairman of CSI.
“We are delighted to see that the Paris agreement sets a framework for reporting CO2 emissions that looks fully compatible with what the CSI has developed some 10 years ago, including the independent verification,” added Philippe Fonta, managing director of the CSI. The Getting the Numbers Right (GNR) database provides the baseline of CO2 emissions that can be used to develop low-carbon technology roadmaps, like the one developed by CSI in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2009 as well as for future market mechanisms to be developed under the Paris agreement.
The CSI is now working on expanding its tools and guidelines to additional cement companies to build on the leading initiatives taken by the CSI members and scale up implementation of available solutions. The CSI will convene cement companies and stakeholders on 13 and 14 December 2016 in Madrid at its annual forum to update its action plan covering subjects like energy efficiency, use of alternative fuels, reducing the clinker-to-cement ratio, identifying and measuring the avoided emissions throughout the value chain by using sustainable concrete, the development of new cements and concrete and the carbon capture and utilisation or storage opportunities.
Ecocem France orders Loesche mill for Dunkirk plant 07 November 2016
France: Ecocem France has ordered a Loesche type LM 46.2+2 CS mill for a slag cement grinding plant that it is building in Dunkirk. It follows a previous order by Ecocem of a LM 46.2+2 CS mill for the dry grinding of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) at its plant at Fos-sur-Mer.
The LM 46.2+2 CS for the plant in Dunkirk is designed for the grinding of cement clinker and granulated blast furnace slag at a capacity of 105t/hr GGBFS. The gearbox will have a capacity of 3150kW.
All the mechanical equipment for the grinding plant starting from mill feed to the product discharge into the product silos is included in the Loesche scope of supply. The Loma heater type LF 28-L will be a full-inlined type designed to burn natural gas as well as blast furnace gas. The burner supplied by Loesche will be the MSBZ type, complete with fitting rack and local switch cabinet.
The lead-time for the main components of the mill and for the additional units included in the scope of supply is 6 to 13 months. The commissioning of the vertical roller mill is planned for the middle of 2017.
Ecocem’s grinding plant will be installed close to Arcelor steelworks for use of their granulated blast furnace slag. This LM 46.2+2 CS will be the seventh Loesche vertical roller mill installation for slag and cement grinding in France.
President Mahama inaugurates Diamond Cement grinding plant 07 November 2016
Ghana: President John Mahama has inaugurated a US$50m cement grinding plant at Bokro. The unit will have a cement production capacity of 1Mt/yr and will manufacture 42.5R, 42.5N and 32.5 R grades of cement, according to the Ghana News Agency.
"This is a manifestation of how Ghana is harnessing Foreign Direct Investment for economic growth,” said Mahama. He added that complaints by local producers about imports of cement were being examined by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Dalmia Bharat and OCL India Plan to merge 07 November 2016
India: Dalmia Bharat and OCL India have agreed to merge creating the fourth largest cement producer in the country with a production capacity of 25Mt/yr. Dalmia Bharat already owns a 75% share in OCL and the merger has been described as a move to ‘simplify the ownership’, according to Puneet Dalmia, managing director of Dalmia Bharat Group, in comments to the Economic Times.
“The merger will simplify the holding structure and create further consolidation in the cement sector,” said Dalmia. “This action further strengthens our position as one of the leading cement players in India, uniquely placed to support India’s economic growth, and demonstrates our commitment towards achieving simplification and consolidation.”
North Korea: Traders are importing more cement from China to meet demand for rebuilding following floods in North Hamgyong. The government has warned traders that future tenders will rely on how much cement they are currently providing for reconstruction work, according to DailyNK. A source quoted by the media source said that imports are favoured over local cement due to quality differences. The trading companies reportedly buy the cement in China and then donate it for free towards the restoration drive.
FLSmidth signs US$200m cement contract in Iraq 04 November 2016
Iraq: FLSmidth has signed a contract worth more than US$200m with Iraq Cement Co. to build a 6000t/day production line in the Al Muthana region. The contract is a full engineering, procurement and construction order, comprising engineering, all FLSmidth equipment supplies, erection and construction, as well as commissioning and training once completed.
"By signing the contract, Iraq Cement Co. is making the first step in raising financing for the project, which is an important milestone in its pursuit to realise the project. We are pleased to have been selected to support it on that journey. FLSmidth has a long history in Iraq and the Middle East and is maintaining its leading role in serving the rapidly-expanding cement market. The growing economy and increasing infrastructure investments in the region continue to offer business opportunities," said Group Executive Vice President of the Cement Division, Per Mejnert Kristensen.