September 2024
Gas shortage cripples 35% of Iran's cement production 04 January 2016
Iran: About 35% of Iran's cement kilns, or 30 – 35 of a total of 97 kilns at 71 cement plants, are not working due to the gas shortage and technical problems, reported Abdolreza Sheikhan, Secretary of Iran's Cement Industry Employers Association on 2 January 2016.
Iran's cement sector is suffering a gas shortage, according to Sheikhan. He said that the country's cement output has decreased by 10 – 12% in 21 March 2015 – 21 November 2015. Sheikhan has forecast that Iran's annual cement output will fall by some 12% compared to the preceding fiscal year, which ended on 21 March 2015. During the year, Iran produced over 61Mt of cement.
The National Iranian Gas Company has stopped supplying gas to a number of cement plants due to a wave of cold weather. However, the ongoing problem is not due to output shortage, but because of a delay in inaugurating a projected compressor station, according to Iranian media. It was already planned that the country's gas transmission capacity would increase by 80Mm3/day in 2016 by installing five compressor stations en route to the transmission pipeline, but the stations have not become fully operational yet.
Shanshui Cement takes over 100 factories from Shandong Shanshui 04 January 2016
China: Shanshui Cement has announced that as of 31 December 2015, the company took over 100 factories that belonged to Shandong Shanshui, including the Shandong Cement Factory.
At the time, 'the former directors of Shandong Shanshui, namely Zhang Caikui, Zhang Bin and Huang Kehua, still illegally occupied the head office and five factories of Shandong Shanshui and illegally retained important documents, including but not limited to, seals, chops and books,' according to local media. As the company documents were illegally retained, Jinan Administration for Industry & Commerce refused to proceed with the application for the change of directors of Shandong Shanshui.
Tajikistan reportedly starts exporting cement to Afghanistan 04 January 2016
Tajikistan: Tajikistan has reportedly started to export cement to neighbouring Afghanistan.
According to the press centre of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, 12 trucks carrying 370t of cement proceeded via the Panji Poyon border crossing on the Tajik-Afghan border in late December 2015.
Huaxin Gayur Cement Co., Ltd in Yovon, Khatlon reportedly signed an agreement with Afghanistan's construction company Shamal Sharq in early December 2015 to supply 500t of cement to Afghanistan.
Nepal approves US$140m proposal by Chinese cement firm 04 January 2016
Nepal: The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) has approved a US$140m investment proposal by a Chinese company to set up a cement plant in the country. The company is looking for a site in the eastern, central and western regions to set up the 1.1Mt/yr plant, according to IBN CEO Radhesh Pant.
UltraTech Cement appoints K K Maheshwari as Managing Director 04 January 2016
India: UltraTech Cement has appointed K K Maheshwari as Managing Director and Additional Director for a period of four years with effect from 1 April 2016. Maheshwari is a chartered accountant with over 38 years of experience.
The post was previously held by O P Puranmalka, who will cease to be the company's Managing Director on 31 March 2016, but will continue as a Non-executive Director from 1 April 2016.
Ghana: Ghana has lost over US$13m due to imports of around 500,000t of bagged cement the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana (CMAG) has said to the Daily Guide newspaper. The association is fighting imports of bagged cement into the country, principally from China, because local production of cement exceeds demand. Local cement production capacity is 7.4Mt/yr, current consumption is 5Mt/yr and this leaves a surplus of 2.4Mt/yr.
"It's mind-boggling to see the ascendancy of imports of bagged cement from China despite persistent petitions that the manufacturers have installed capacities to meet local demand," said CMAG chairman George Dawson-Ahmoah in a recent statement. The association has been lobbying government bodies in Ghana since April 2015 on the issue if imported bagged cement from China. Local producers affected by the imports include GHACEM Limited, Diamond Cement Ghana, Savanna Diamond Cement and Western Diamond Cement.
Cementir Italia offers Euro125m to buy Sacci cement assets 30 December 2015
Italy: Italian cement producer Sacci has accepted a Euro125m offer from Cementir Italia for the acquisition of a branch of Sacci, including assets in the cement, concrete and transport sector, replacing a previous offer presented by Buzzi Unicem. Cementir Italia will pay part of the price at the closing of the operation and the remaining part 24 months later.
InterCement sells quarries in Brazil 30 December 2015
Brazil: InterCement has sold two quarries, Guarulhos and Barueri, in São Paulo state to Polimix Concreto for US$25m. The sale includes the properties, assets and exploration rights of both quarries.
The quarry sales follows a sale of a 16% stake in Yguazu Cementos (Paraguay) for US$35m that was announced on 21 December 2015. In that sale InterCement retained a 51% stake in Yguazu Cementos to retain control of the subsidiary. The remaining share capital share capital was held by InterCement's Paraguayan partner Concret Mix.
Together both sales form part of a set of initiatives to strengthen InterCement's capital structure and increase its profitability. As part of its announcement the company highlighted the stoppage of underused plants, the divestment of concrete units in Brazil, the sale of non-strategic assets, pricing reviews and reduction of costs and expenses.
Mira to build 1Mt/yr cement plant in Cameroon 28 December 2015
Cameroon: Mira plans to build a 1Mt/yr cement plant in Douala at a estimated cost of US$53m. The Swiss engineering firm has reportedly signed an agreement with the government of Cameroon, sources at the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Technological Development have revealed to the African Press Agency. The new plant will create about 1600 direct and indirect jobs.
Once built the new plant will be the fifth in Cameroon. Existing cement plants operating in the country include the LafargeHolcim subsidiary Cameroon Cement (CIMENCAM), the Morocco-based African Cement (CIMAF), the local subsidiary of the Nigerian Dangote cement group (DCC) and Medecem Cameroon, a subsidiary of the Turkish Eren Holdings. Total production of cement in Cameroon is estimated at around 3.5Mt/yr and domestic demand is estimated at 5Mt/yr.
Ferus Smit delivers world's 1st LNG-powered cement tanker 23 December 2015
Netherlands: Shipbuilding company Ferus Smit delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cement tanker MV Greenland to JT Cement on 23 December. Built for the joint venture JT Cement, formed by Swedish shipping company Erik Thun AB and Norway-based KG Jebsen Cement, MV Greenland departed the Delfzijl harbour on its first commercial voyage to Rostock where it will receive its first cement load.
The vessel is the first ever dry cargo vessel with an LNG fuelled propulsion system and LNG tanks integrated inside the hull. The unique design incorporates a pressurised LNG tank positioned in the foreship. While sailing on LNG, the vessel will meet high emission criteria.
The cement cargo system consists of a fully automated cement loading and unloading system, based on fluidisation of cement by means of compressed air. The cement can be loaded and unloaded fully enclosed through pipes, thus dust-free.