September 2024
India: The shareholders of Jaiprakash Associates approved the sale of the group’s cement business to UltraTech Cement. According to the deal, arranged earlier in 2016, UltraTech Cement will buy Jaiprakash Associates' cement plants in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh, which have a total production capacity of 21.1Mt/yr, at an enterprise value of US$2.4bn. In addition, it will acquire a 4Mt/yr grinding plant being built in Uttar Pradesh.
Approval has been obtained from the Competition Commission of India, according to the Press Trust of India. The next step involves seeking approval from the concerned High Court and the final approval from capital markets regulator.
Emami Group plans 20Mt/yr expansion drive by 2021 26 October 2016
India: Emami Group is planning to build a cement production capacity of 15 – 20Mt/yr by 2021. It started operations at its 5.5Mt/yr cement plant in Chattisgarh in July 2016. In addition, two cement grinding plants are set to open in West Bengal and Odisha, according to the Press Trust of India. The West Bengal plant is due to open in January 2017.
"We aim to be among the top few players in the cement industry. Emami Cement plans to have a manufacturing capacity of 15 – 20Mt/yr over the next three to five years," said Aditya Agarwal, director of Emami Group.
Emami Cement has a limestone mine in Andhra Pradesh where it also plans to build a 2Mt/yr plant with an investment of US$225m. It also plans to build a 6Mt/yr plant in Rajasthan for US$524m.
Initially, the company plans to target markets in Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha and eastern Maharashtra's Vidharbha region. It sells cement under the 'Double Bull' brand.
New cement plant in Tunisia to open in 2018 26 October 2016
Tunisia: A new 1Mt/yr cement plant in Sidi Bouzid is set to open in 2018, according to Director General of Manufacturing Industry Brahim Chebili in an interview with African Manager. The project is budgeted at US$220m and will create 300 jobs.
Eagle Materials revenue rises slightly in first half of 2016 26 October 2016
US: Eagle Materials’ revenue has risen by 2.6% year-on-year to US$630m in the first half of 2016 from US$614m in the same period of 2015. Its net earnings rose by 56% to US$106m from US$67.6m. Revenue from its cement business rose by 10% to US$252m from US$229m. The company singled out the strong performance of its cement business in the second quarter of 2016 with record earnings. However, it also noted that average net cement sales price at its joint venture declined year-on-year due to the shift from oil well cement to construction-grade cement over the past year. Overall cement sales volumes remained static at 2.23Mt in the first half of 2016.
Holcim US Hagerstown cement plant celebrates US$96m upgrade 26 October 2016
US: Holcim US has officially completed its US$96m upgrade project to its Hagerstown cement plant in Maryland. The two-year modernisation project has helped the plant to adhere to NESHAP environmental rules and has increased production capacity at the site by 0.2Mt/yr.
"A cornerstone of the regional community for 113 years, we recognise the importance of this facility to the Hagerstown community," said John Stull, chief executive officer of US cement operations for LafargeHolcim. "Our investment to modernise clinker production represents our continued commitment to our customers and local manufacturing. The facility will continue to be a strong and reliable partner to the community for many more years to come."
The upgrades to the plant should deliver a more than a 60% reduction to nitrogen oxides (NOx), approximately a 50% reduction to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and more than a 75% reduction to Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from the plant.
Belgium: HeidelbergCement has completed the sale of its operations in Belgium, primarily consisting of Italcementi’s subsidiary Compagnie des Ciments Belges (CCB) to an affiliate of Cementir Holding. The European Commission has approved the agreement.
“With the disposal of the Belgium assets we fulfill the obligation of the European Commission and improve the net financial position of HeidelbergCement after the acquisition of Italcementi,” said Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement.
HeidelbergCement and Cementir Holding announced the sale on 25 July 2016. The transaction has an enterprise value of Euro312m on a cash and debt-free basis.
HeidelbergCement appoints new board of directors for Italcementi 26 October 2016
Italy: HeidelbergCement, the sole shareholder of Italcementi, has appointed a new board of directors its subsidiary at a shareholder meeting on 19 October 2016. The new members are Luca Sabelli as chairman, Dominik von Achten as executive vice president, Lorenz Näger as executive vice president and Roberto Callieri as chief executive officer.
On 12 October 2016, HeidelbergCement purchased the remaining Italcementi shares that had not been tendered in the mandatory tender offer. From this date HeidelbergCement became the sole shareholder of Italcementi and owns 100% of the share capital. Italcementi shares were delisted from the Italian Stock Exchange on the same day.
Pakistan: Fecto Cement has appealed to the Islamabad High Court to allow it to continue mining in the Margalla Hills. In August 2016 it had its mining lease cancelled by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and a fine was issued. This followed an order by the Supreme Court in March 2015 to stop all development and stone crushing activities, according to the Dawn newspaper. In 2013 the Islamabad Capital Territory issued a mining lease that allowed Fecto Cement to carry out stone crushing activities in the area until 2030.
Cementos Argos to upgrade San Lorenzo grinding plant 21 October 2016
Honduras: Argos Honduras plans to spend US$25m towards upgrading its San Lorenzo grinding plant. The site has a production capacity of 300,000t/yr and it will develop its range of Ordinary Portland Cement products, said Argos Honduras director Harry Abuchaibe to La Prenza newspaper. The plant, formerly known as Cesur Grinding Station, was purchased from Lafarge in 2013 as part of a package of assets acquired at that time. Argos Honduras also operates a 1Mt/yr integrated cement plant in the country at Comayagua.
Brazil: Brazil's antitrust watchdog Cade has decided to end its investigation into 18 companies from the cement sector over alleged anti-competition practices. The allegations were that some of the companies had reached an agreement to refuse to provide three types of cement to competitors outside of an economic group, which would lead to increased prices of the products, according to the Valor Economico newspaper. Cade determined punishments were to be applied to Holcim Brasil, Cimento Tupi and Votorantim Pimentos. However, case leader Paulo Burnier decided that there insufficient evidence to apply sanctions on the majority of companies concerned. He also noted that some of the companies had already been set punishments by Cade for involvement in cartel practices.