September 2024
US: In November 2015 Fenner Drives will launch PowerTwist Wedge Belts, a long-lasting upgrade to rubber wedge belts.
As the only twist-lock belt available in a wedge profile, PowerTwist Wedge Belts are engineered to combine the performance of a rubber wedge belt with the added-value design of link belting. PowerTwist Wedge Belts will be available in SPA and SPB profiles. The link design of PowerTwist allows for simple inventory management with easy, fast installation even on captive or fixed center drives. With a high resistance to abrasion and shock loads, PowerTwist is constructed to withstand extreme temperatures and is unaffected by oil, grease, water and common industrial solvents. PowerTwist Link Belting is the proven choice for a variety of industrial power transmission applications including cement, mining, aggregate, metal manufacturing, forestry and any wedge or V belt applications.
Local construction firms cry foul over new PPC plant 30 July 2015
Zimbabwe: PPC is under fire from local construction companies that have accused it of sidelining them in the construction of a new cement plant in Ruwa in favour of foreign companies, as reported by All Africa.
According to 'inside sources,' local companies submitted bids, but these were rejected due to a directive from the cement company's head office to sideline local companies and renegotiate a new contract with the main contractor, China's Sinoma International Engineering. The Chinese company was already undertaking construction works at the cement plant. Sources have said that since the beginning of construction, no projects have been awarded to local firms, which claim to have the same technical ability and expertise as the foreign companies.
"PPC is constructing a cement plant in Ruwa and is using only Chinese contractors to build the plant at the expense of local construction companies with the same capacity. Local companies submitted bids and none of them got a contract," said one unnamed source.
Another source said that a Chinese workforce drove the whole construction project being executed by Sinoma, which was against the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio- Economic Transformation Agenda's goal of creating jobs. "A number of local indigenous companies have tendered for various technical expertise, but none of them have been recognised. We believe that in order to empower local companies, there should be joint ventures between the foreign companies and locals to get a win-win scenario," said the source.
PPC managing director Njombo Lekula said that the company had engaged Sinoma on an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) arrangement. He said that the EPCM was a common form of contracting arrangement for very large projects within the infrastructure, mining, resources and energy industries. "We engaged the Chinese in an EPCM arrangement and the contractor is the one that knows how to execute the project. Right now, Sinoma employs 60 locals, which I think is a large number. Due to the arrangement it is obvious that the contractor will provide for all the materials required, but we told them that we need a quarter of local supply as well. The claims are baseless considering that we contracted also JR Goddard construction to do our road and sewer reticulation works for US$700,000. So to say we are sidelining locals is unfounded," said Lekula. He added that the company would continue to empower local companies and suppliers. For example, an indigenous company has been awarded a contract to do all of the rail infrastructure at the plant at a contract value of about US$3m.
PPC expects to complete the construction of its 1Mt/yr capacity cement plant in the first half of 2016 with an investment of about US$86m having been made towards the project so far. The project would cost a total of US$200m after completion, with the investment package set to aid the setting up of another plant in Mashonaland Central. PPC is also building a separate grinding facility in Mozambique's Tete Province.
Nigeria: The Ogun State Government has entered into partnership with Lafarge Africa on sustainable waste management towards the generation of renewable energy and youth employment, according to All Africa.
"This initiative will help clear our waste and make us live more healthily. With this sustainable waste management solution, we would generate much-needed energy and employment opportunities for our youths," said governor Ibikunle Amosun during a visit to the Saje dump site in Abeokuta. He added that there are plans to set up a dump site in each of the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun.
New Lafarge Africa CEO Peter Hoddinott expressed deep conviction that the combustible and recyclable energy would bring a new lease of life to the people, as well as improve the economy of the state.
Nepal: Nepal has endorsed a US$360m Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposal made by China's Hongshi Holdings to establish a cement plant in Nepal in partnership with Nepal's Shiva Cement. This is the largest FDI pledge yet from China, according to the government officials.
China's Hongshi Holdings and Nepal's Shiva Cement reached an agreement in March 2015 to set up a cement plant in Nepal. Officials at the IBN said this is the third-largest FDI in cement plants in Nepal. As per the agreement, Hongshi Holdings will invest 70% in the project, while the Shiva Cement will invest the remaining amount.
According to Nepal's Cement Manufacturers' Association, there are more than 40 (mainly mini) cement plants in the country and domestic products only account for 85% of domestic consumption.
Vietnam: Yen Binh Cement's revenue grew to US$12.7m in the first half of 2015, thanks to its expanding markets.
In the period, Yen Binh Cement sold 308,000t of cement and exported 480,000t of clinker, fulfilling 40% of its 2015 target. The company produced 400,000t of cement in the six months, meeting demand in Yen Bai Province and the neighbouring Provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Lai Chau. Yen Binh Cement also exported 480,000t of clinker. In 2015 it aims to generate a revenue of US$33.2m, with a net profit of US$962,640.
Lafarge Africa's first half pre-tax profit rises 13% 30 July 2015
Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has reported that its pre-tax profit rose by 13% year-on-year to US$149m in the first six months of 2015, according to Reuters. Its turnover in the first six months of 2015 increased to US$586m from US$523m in the same period of 2014. Its finance and investment income rose to US$17.6m from US$8.59m in 2014.
Nigeria: BUA Group's US$600m, 3Mt/yr capacity Obu cement plant in Okpella, Edo is set to be start cement dispatches in the first week of August 2015. Clinker production has already commenced.
"The Obu Cement plant, which is about 5km away from Edo Cement Company, is 100% owned by BUA Group. The Edo Cement plant, which has a capacity of 500,000t/yr is also being upgraded and will receive clinker from the Obu Cement plant before being fully completed," said BUA Group chairman and CEO Abdulsamad Rabiu. "The two plants will produce about 3.5Mt/yr of cement. Asides from the initial cost of over US$500m in Obu Cement, we have also invested over US$100m in gas turbines to power a 50MW plant for 24-hour electricity generation, as well as the construction of a 30km gas supply pipeline." The Obu Cement plant was supplied by FLSmidth of Denmark, while the civil construction was handled by construction firm Julius Berger.
Rabiu said that the company's three-year journey to construct the plant would give a much-needed boost to Nigeria's cement industry, as well as enhance the development of related sectors including housing and construction. Rabiu said that the plant's location in Edo makes it a strategic point for markets in the north and south of the country. "Essentially we are 200m to the highway linking Okene, Kogi and Benin, Edo, which will guarantee adequate distribution of products," said Rabiu. Rabiu revealed that an estimated 250 – 300 trailers of cement would be delivered to markets across the regions each day once the Obu plant starts full commercial operations.
The Obu Cement plant currently uses 9000t/day of limestone and clay for its large-scale operations, which will provide over 1500 direct jobs. The plant will produce 32.5, 42.5 and 52.5 grade cement.
"As far back as April 2014, BUA Group signed a gas sales and purchase agreement with the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), which will guarantee the supply of about 0.9Mft3/day of gas to the Obu plant. However, liquid fuels will also be used as a backup, to ensure production around the clock," said Rabiu.
Italy: Trading in Italcementi was suspended due to an excessive rise on 29 July 2015 after the announcement on 28 July 2015 that German rival HeidelbergCement was buying a controlling stake of 45% at a price of Euro10.60/share, according to ANSA. The share price, which closed at Euro6.59, would have shot up by 50.9%, but trading was suspended.
India: The government has issued a show-cause notice to Ambuja Cement for not adhering to the condition of converting at least 50% of the clinker it produces into cement in Himachal Pradesh at cement plant in Darlaghat, according to The Tribune, Himachal Pradesh.
Principal secretary of industry RD Dhiman has reportedly been asked to submit an 'Action Taken' report about the total loss of revenue on account of the reduced royalties and various taxes to the government.
"It has come to the notice of the government that Ambuja Cement has been converting only 17% of its clinker into cement at its plant at Darlaghat, which has resulted into the loss of revenue to the government," said industry minister Mukesh Agnihotri. He added that the department had been asked to compile a report of the total loss to it on this account.
Ambuja Cement has been asked to explain why it has violated the agreement that it entered into with the government. If the reply given by the company is found to be unsatisfactory, the permit to operate the plant could be withdrawn. As per the agreement signed between the government and Ambuja Cement for the plant, at least 50% of the clinker has to be converted into cement within the state.
Romania: Lafarge's like-for-like cement sales in Romania rose by 25.2% year-on-year in terms of value in the first half of 2015, according to SeeNews. In terms of volume, cement sales in Romania climbed by 30.4% year-on-year in the first six months of 2015. "In Romania, cement volumes rose by 37% in the second quarter of 2015, bolstered by solid trends in the residential and the non-residential segments," said Lafarge in a statement.