September 2024
Ota pozzalana cement plant to be commissioned says Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute 29 April 2015
Nigeria: A pozzalana cement pilot plant in Ota, Ogun State is to be commissioned following the installation of the plant. The plant is the first of its kind in Nigeria that can process pozzolana and it is being run by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBBRI).
The NBBRI has coordinated with the Director of Building and Road Research in Ghana on the project through exchange programmes. Two pozzalana cement plants are being built in Nigeria, in Ota, Ogun and Bokkos, Plateau respectively.
Libya Holdings Group to acquire Libyan Cement Company 29 April 2015
Libya: Libya Holdings Group (LHG) is to acquire a majority stake in Libyan Cement Company through a special purpose acquisition vehicle. The LHG sponsored vehicle will acquire a controlling interest in Libyan Cement Company from QuadraCir Group (QuadraCir). It is anticipated that the acquisition will close by 30 April 2015. The transaction will be funded by LHG, using its existing cash resources, together with some of the leading families and industrial companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council region as co-investors.
Libyan Cement Company is the oldest cement company in Libya, has a significant market share in the Libyan cement market, and is the only producer of cement in eastern Libya. Under the terms of the acquisition, LHG and its co-investors intend to invest in the cement producer to stabilise operations and increase cement production capacity to over 3Mt/yr. The investment is targeted to meet the demand for cement in eastern Libya which is reliant on imports.
"We are very pleased to have been able to execute this transaction in a complex environment, retaining operational continuity for the cement company and at the same time securing its long-term growth potential which will benefit the Libyan economy," said Ahmed Ben Halim, Founder and CEO of LHG.
Competition Commission of India clears Ultratech to buy two cement plants from Jaiprakash Associates 29 April 2015
India: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has cleared Ultratech Cement's proposed US$853m deal to buy two cement plants from Jaiprakash Associates in Madhya Pradesh. The acquisition is for a 2.6Mt/yr cement plant in Bela, with a 25MW captive power plant, and a 2.3Mt/yr cement plant in Sidhi with a 155MW captive power plant, according to the Economic Times.
"Looking at the details of the matter, the combination would not have any adverse impact on the market," the CCI order said.
UltraTech's cement production capacity will rise to 65Mt/yr. The company has set a target to reach 71Mt/yr by 2016. Following the sale Jaiprakash Associates, also know as Jaypee Group, will remain the country's third largest cement producer with a production capacity of 22Mt/yr.
World: Lafarge has signed an agreement with Solidia Technologies to sell its low-carbon cement and CO2-cured concrete worldwide. Under the terms of this agreement, Lafarge will have the right to commercialise the process that reduces the carbon footprint of the end-to-end process by up to 70%. The commercial launch will initially take place in some key markets in North America and in Europe for the manufacturing of concrete elements such as paving stones, roof tiles and concrete blocks.
Solidia has developed a new binder made from similar raw materials to Ordinary Portland Cement and produced in a traditional rotary kiln. It is produced at lower temperatures and through a different chemical reaction that generates less CO2. Used afterwards in the manufacture of precast concrete, Solidia Cement hardens through the addition and absorption of CO2 in a patented curing process that reduces the overall carbon footprint by up to 70%. Produced at traditional precast concrete manufacturing facilities, Solidia Concrete reaches full strength in less than 24 hours.
Lafarge has worked with Solidia Technologies since 2013 to industrialise this technology. In April 2014, a joint group of Lafarge and Solidia scientists confirmed the reduced carbon footprint and commercial viability of Solidia cement during a full-scale trial at Lafarge's Whitehall cement plant in the US. The cement produced has subsequently been used by a variety of pre-cast customers in North America and Europe to further validate Solidia's curing technology and to produce blocks, pavers and roof tiles for commercial testing. In December 2014, Lafarge invested in Solidia Technologies and joined Solidia's Board of Directors.
China: Anhui Conch has reported that its net profit fell by 30.7% year-on-year to US$276m for the first quarter of 2015 from US$399m for the same period in 2014. Revenue fell by 11.1% to US$1.81bn from US$2.04bn. The major Chinese cement producer attributed to the fall in profit to a drop in product prices.
China: Profits made by the cement industry have fallen by 67.6% year-on-year to US$521m for the first quarter of 2015 according to statistics released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Cement output fell slightly by 3.4% year-on-year to 428Mt in the same period.
CRH appoints new Transformation Director 29 April 2015
Ireland: CRH has said that its Group Finance Director - Maeve Carton - will become the company's new Group Transformation Director. The position is a new strategic group function within the company and Carton's new role will start in January 2016.
As Group Transformation Director, she will identify and implement the optimum financial and business model for the group in the years ahead. She will report to, and work closely with CRH's Group CEO Albert Manifold, and will continue to contribute directly to the board as an executive director.
The building materials group said that a search to appoint a new finance director for the group will start shortly. It is hoped that this process will be completed by the end of the year. Carton will continue as finance director until her replacement has been appointed, which will ensure an "effective transition process".
Europe: Holcim has adopted an automated dispatch processes and weighing technology in its Eastern Europe plants using logistics software from Schenck Process. Since the start of 2014 the LOGiQ software has automated process and data management relating to dispatch services in the company's 14 locations in the region. In January 2015 the software handled more than 10,000 transport orders. Four other locations are currently in the process of being connected to the dispatch automation system.
"The requirements for such integrated solutions fits in very well with Schenck Process not only because of its know-how in the field of weighing technology, its equipment and machinery but also in the area of software," explains Nino Stölzel, Sales Manager at Schenck Process.
Costa Rica: Cemex and Holcim have appealed against the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Trade (MEIC) over new certification requirements. Cemex has explained that its cement has been accredited since 2005 and it presented all necessary documentation on 10 April 2015 following a request from the MEIC. Cemex believes that government authorities have made a series of errors in their procedures and asked for the necessary corrections, according to local media.
Holcim Costa Rica has made assurances that it adheres to technical requirements and every year the national technical standards institute (Inteco) certifies its cement. Holcim will appeal against the government decision for new certification. Cement importer Sinocem has not appealed against this resolution, so it will have to present its certification in six months.
Europe: CRH has been approved by the European Commission as a purchaser of assets in the European Union from Lafarge and Holcim. CRH has also received from the European Commission the clearance for the acquisition of these assets. These divestments remain subject to the completion of the merger between Lafarge and Holcim, including a successful public exchange offering to Lafarge's shareholders and approval by Holcim's shareholders.
In France Holcim and Lafarge are divesting all of Holcim's assets, except for its Altkirch cement plant and aggregates and ready-mix sites in the Haut-Rhin region, and a grinding station of Lafarge in Saint-Nazaire. Lafarge's assets on Reunion island are being sold except for its shareholding in Ciments de Bourbon. All of Lafarge's assets are also being sold in Germany and Romania. Lafarge Tarmac assets in the UK are being sold with the exception of its Cauldon and Cookstown plants and certain associated assets. In Hungary all of Holcim's operating assets are being divested and it is selling its assets in Slovakia.