September 2024
Cemex sells Fairborn cement plant to Eagle Materials 13 September 2016
US: Cemex has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its 1Mt/yr Fairborn, Ohio cement plant, a cement terminal in Columbus, Ohio and a cement bagging operation to Eagle Materials for US$400m. Cemex will use the proceeds of the sale to reduce its debts and for general corporate purposes. The closing of the deal is subject to regulatory approval. The divestiture is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2016.
"Our strategy has been to grow the cement side of our business. The Fairborn plant extends our US cement system and connects but does not overlap with the market reach of our existing plants. This high-quality cement plant is a compelling fit with our strategic objectives and our criteria for new investment. These assets will allow us to participate more fully in the US construction industry and further positions the company in target US heartland growth markets," said Dave Powers, Eagle Materials President and Chief Executive Officer.
Colombia/Thailand: Cementos Argos has held its position in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fourth consecutive year. Cementos Argos was featured as the most sustainable cement company in the world after obtaining the best score in the construction materials sector. The Colombia-based materials producer was listed along with Thailand’s Siam Cement.
"The permanence in this index confirms our business model, in which we start with sustainability and innovation as pillars of the strategy to create value for our customers, shareholders, communities, employees, and other stakeholders,” said Juan Esteban Calle, CEO of Cementos Argos.
Argos obtained the best score among the following variables: Biodiversity, Operational Eco efficiency, Water related risks, Social Reporting, Labour Practice Indicators and Human Rights, Tax Strategy, Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy, Human Talent Development and Talent Attraction and retention. In addition to being included in the Global Index, Cementos Argos was recognised in Emerging Markets for the fourth consecutive year.
Each year about 2500 global companies, listed on the stock exchange, belonging to about 59 economic sectors, are invited to participate in the DJSI.
China exports US$19.8m worth of cement to Kenya in first half of 2016 12 September 2016
Kenya: China exported cement worth US$19.8m to Kenya in the first half of 2016 compared to US$1.99m in the same period of 2015, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). Despite this large increase in imports of cement, Chinese contractors working in the country, such as the China Road and Bridges Corporation which are currently building the Mombasa-Nairobi railway, have denied bringing the material into Kenya. They say they have only imported machinery and equipment for the large-scale infrastructure projects that they are working on, according to Business Daily.
Cement mill shipped to Djibouti 09 September 2016
Djibouti: Gulf Agency Services has shipped a cement ball mill and its components to Djibouti, according to Breakbulk. The mill was shipped from Jebel Ali, UAE to the Port of Djibouti. Gulf Agency Services is an associate company of Maritime Transport International that is base in Djibouti.
Sino Zimbabwe Cement may cut shifts in response to poor demand 09 September 2016
Zimbabwe: Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company may cut shifts in response to poor local demand for cement. Managing director Wang Yong told the Business Chronicle that local demand for cement has fallen by 25% due to a poor construction market. The cement producer is considering reducing its current pattern of three shifts to just one day shift.
Despite market concerns, the company has spent US$1m towards building storage space for raw materials and transport infrastructure improvements. In 2015 it completed a US$5m upgrade to double its production capacity to 0.4Mt/yr.
Siwertell wins repeat order from Muhammet Gümüstas 08 September 2016
Turkey: Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has won its fourth road-mobile unloader order from Turkish cement company Muhammet Gümüstas. Three similar systems have been delivered to the same customer since 2012.
The new trailer-based, diesel-powered, Siwertell 10 000 S road-mobile unloader will be used to discharge cement at 300t/hour. It will be equipped with a double bellows system, with an automatic shifting function, to allow continuous operation. The unloader will also be fitted with a dust filter to minimise atmospheric emissions.
"Good experience with its three existing Siwertell systems was an important factor in winning this latest contract with Muhammet Gümüstas," said Jörgen Ojeda, Director, Mobile unloaders, Siwertell. "The fact that its competitors use Siwertell units was also a significant driver in this competitive business.”
The new unloader will be put into operation in the Turkish ports of Kardeniz and Marmara, taking full advantage of the flexibility offered by Siwertell's road-mobile units. It is being built at Siwertell's manufacturing premises in Bjuv, Sweden. Delivery is scheduled before the end of August 2016.
PCA issues award to Cemex Lyons cement plant 08 September 2016
US: The Cemex Lyons Cement Plant has been recognised by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) with its 2016 Energy and Environment Award for Land Stewardship. Representatives from the Lyons, Colorado unit accepted the award on 31 August 2016 at the PCA’s annual Fall Congress meeting in Chicago.
The Lyons plant’s land-stewardship program for 2015 included limiting invasive plants and weeds and cultivating native plants to attract local wildlife and migrating birds, an effort that was launched at the facility in 2008. The plant also optimised its quarry roads to limit fugitive dust emissions and improve energy efficiency and employee productivity. The plant has previously been recognised by the Wildlife Habitat Council for its diverse environmental programs, including increasing areas dedicated to pollinator plantings and native species to 2.33 acres. On Earth Day, plant employees installed bee boards, bat houses and bird nests.
“Cemex is committed to sustainable practices throughout our operations and to building a better future for our communities through environmental initiatives. We are very proud of our Lyons team and their commitment to land stewardship, and it’s truly an honour to be recognized by the PCA for those efforts,” said Cemex USA president Ignacio Madridejos.
The PCA created the Energy & Environmental awards program in 2000. The PCA awards are given annually to recognise environmental and community relations efforts by cement plants throughout North America. The program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in the region.
Lebanon: Intercem is building a hot gas system for a coal mill at the LafargeHolcim Chekka plant. The engineering company won the contract for the job in 2015. It is the second such contract for Intercem to build a hot gas system following a previous project at a plant in Jordan in 2013.
The new hot gas system in the coal mill plant in Chekka connects the preheater with the coal mill and comprises a hot gas duct with a length of 360m and a diameter of 900mm. The process data of the hot gas outlet of the heat exchanger are of 18,500Nm3/hour at 400°C.
The turnkey scope of supply and services for the project includes:
- Project management
- As-built-survey of the existing plant using 3D-Laser scanning
- Review of the statics of the existing steel structure and concrete construction
- Process- and detail engineering
- Supply of the mechanical equipment including steel structure
- Coordination of the locally produced components
- Supply of the electrical equipment including clarification of connections and integration into the existing control systems
- Execution of the complete foundation works
- Transport management
- Electrical and mechanical assembly of the plant
- Commissioning of the hot gas system
- Training of the operating team
In addition ducts, a cyclone, a process fan and several control dampers, compensators, the complete instrumentation and automation as well as a new recirculation duct with two control dampers at the existing vertical coal mill have been supplied.
Handover to the customer is planned for fourth quarter of 2016.
KHD to install 3-string preheater at Shree Cement 08 September 2016
India: Shree Cement has awarded KHD with new projects for three more kiln lines, each with a capacity of 6000t/day.
The first project is for line two at Shree’s Raipur plant. The second new line will be built in Karnataka using a three-string preheater with the following equipment from KHD: three-string, six-stage preheater, PRZ 9575; three-pier rotary kiln Ø 5.4/5.0m x 75m long; and a Pyrojet burner; Pyrostep clinker cooler, PSC 3-154.16T. The project commencement date was 2 September 2016. The third project, at a location to be announced, will also be built using the equipment mentioned above.
Shree Cement has implemented 11 KHD high-efficiency kiln lines and many grinding stations, including 10 KHD roller presses.
McInnis Cement starts building Sainte-Catherine Terminal 08 September 2016
Canada: McInnis Cement has started construction work at its Sainte-Catherine Terminal. The unit will be built along the Boulevard Hébert over an area of two acres and will host two silos erected near the existing wharf. Approximately 25 ships per year should make stops at the terminal. Construction will continue until early 2017 at the site and the Sainte-Catherine Terminal is scheduled to be fully operational by spring 2017.
“While the cement plant is a few months away from being fully operational, we are taking the final steps for this important project to take shape and become the expected commercial success,” said the Director of Canadian Sales at McInnis Cement, Francis Forlini.
The cement transiting in Sainte-Catherine is intended to serve markets in New England, in addition to replacing imports in Quebec and Ontario. To feed its other markets, McInnis plans to build other terminals on the east coast of North America, including recent construction work in Providence, Rhode Island.