September 2024
FLSmidth wins Euro40m PT Semen Padang contract 08 January 2014
Indonesia: FLSmidth has received an order worth Euro40m from PT Semen Padang for a cement production line with a capacity of 8000t/day. The plant is located in Indarung, just outside the city of Padang in West Sumatra.
The order includes equipment for the main part of the production line, including a raw mill, coal mill, preheater, kiln, burner, clinker cooler and silo equipment as well as a complete control system for the entire plant. This new line will be the sixth line at the plant site. Four of the other five lines at the plant were supplied by FLSmidth.
PT Semen Padang is part of Semen Indonesia Group, Indonesia's largest cement producer with a total cement production output of 30Mt.
UAE cement producers defend exports to Oman 08 January 2014
UAE: Cement producers in United Arab Emirates (UAE) have defended their right to export to Oman amidst calls for curbs on imports. Raysut Cement, Oman's largest cement producer, has asked the Government of Oman to implement a ceiling on UAE imports, according to local media. However, UAE producers deny that they are flooding the Oman market.
"There's a shortage and we are covering that shortage," said Suliman Ali Abdullah Al Shehi, a sales manager at Gulf Cement. Raysut Cement has said that the market only needs 1Mt/yr of cement but that UAE producers are exporting 2.5Mt/yr. However UAE producer Fujairah Cement has estimated demand at nearly 3Mt/yr.
Raysut Cement has requested the government in Oman to cap UAE cement imports and to limit the load on each lorry crossing the border from the UAE. The UAE produces over 24Mt/yr according to the Ministry of Economy. Nearly 60% of the total cement production is exported to neighbouring countries in the region.
Dangote hunts land for cement plant in Nepal 08 January 2014
Nepal: Dangote Group has asked the government of Nepal to help it find land to build a cement plant with an investment of US$800m. The Nigerian-based cement producer announced that it has been looking at Dang, Makwanpur and Dhading districts as possible locations following a meeting between Dangote's CEO KR Rao and the Nepalese Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala.
Dangote has asked the Nepalese government to provide 30MW of power for the project. It intends to generate another 30MW for the plant by using a captive power plant.
In late 2013 the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) gave clearance for Dangote to invest in a cement plant in Nepal. Dangote will spend US$550m the first phase of its investment plan in Nepal.
Cement producers to boost shipping capacity in Japan 08 January 2014
Japan: Cement producers in Japan aim to upgrade their shipping fleets following brisk demand from the reviving construction industry. Three cement producers are expected to spend more than US$95m to acquire new and used vessels in early 2014 according to Nikkei Report. Roughly 70% of cement is moved by sea in Japan.
SumitomoOsaka Cement will spend US$65m, first adding a large ship that can carry 8000t in February 2013 and then purchasing two 2000t ships and one 5500t ship after April 2015. Following the decommissioning of three ships the company will expand its fleet to 20 ships with a combined capacity of 93,000t in 2015 from 19 vessels with a capacity of 82,000t in 2013.
Ube-Mitsubishi Cement plans to start using three new large ships, each with a capacity of roughly 7000 - 12,000t, from February 2014. The company is expected to spend about US$14m on the additions, two of which will be newly built and the other rented.
Taiheiyo Cement will add three large ships for about US$19m in 2014 or later.
Japanese cement producer reduced their shipping fleets following declines in the market in the early 1990s. A reversal of this trend has been attributed to growing construction in large cities, rebuilding after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and an anticipated rise in demand ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
New environmental projects for Eurocement 08 January 2014
Russia: Ruslan Ponomarev, deputy to the chief technical officer of the Voronezh branch of Eurocement, introduced a project for processing municipal and industrial waste as an alternative fuel in cement production at an environmental conference held in Voronezh, Russia, in December 2013.
Particular attention was given to issues involving the technical specifications and advantages of solid waste processing in cement kilns. Eurocement's new power plant in Voronezh allows for up to 300t/yr of waste to be disposed of. Thanks to the establishment of a new removal system, the project will allow the region, which has a population of over 2.5m, to cut its normal waste disposal by 90%.
Belgorod Region Governor, Evgeny Savchenko, met with the president of Eurocement, Mikhail Skorokhod, to discuss prospects for the construction of new cement production lines at Belgorodskiy Cement and Oskolcement. The construction of new lines will reduce the amount of clinker kilns at Oskolcement and Belgorodskiy Cement from six and seven respectively to one at each plant, significantly improving the environmental impact. Energy reduction is expected to reach approximately 30% and fuel consumption can be reduced more than two-fold.
"We are pleased to be working with Eurocement Group. The implementation of construction projects at two cement plants is bringing a completely new level of environmental awareness, allowing a tremendous reduction in manufacturing emissions," said Savchenko.
Mikhail Skorokhod also commented on the project: "Eurocement Group is involved in the continuous modernisation of its production facilities, in order to improve product quality, reduce energy costs and improve the environment. The transition to new technology platforms will be done without interrupting the existing production lines. Regional projects will provide orders for the construction sector in the region. This project will also provide an opportunity to create a completely new situation and quality of life both for the factory workers and residents of Belgorod and Stary Oskol."
Caribbean Cement sends clinker to Venezuela under Petrocaribe 08 January 2014
Venezuela: Caribbean Cement Company, a subsidiary of the TCL Group, has entered into an agreement to supply 100,000t of clinker to Venezuela from December 2013 to April 2014. This arrangement was facilitated under the compensation mechanism of the Petrocaribe Agreement where the government of Jamaica could repay the loan to Venezuela with goods and services in lieu of cash.
This contract is the outcome of more than three years of negotiations between Caribbean Cement, the government of Jamaica and the government of Venezuela. What started as an initiative to export cement ended instead in an agreement to supply clinker.
Caribbean Cement will export 20,000t/month of clinker to Pertigalete, Venezuela. The company will continue negotiations to continue to supply clinker after April 2014. The company said in a statement "Caribbean Cement is pleased to be a trailblazer in setting a precedent for other goods and services to be negotiated under the compensation mechanism of the Petrocaribe."
ANH Refractories names Stephen M Delo as Chairman and CEO 07 January 2014
US: ANH Refractories Company has named Stephen M Delo as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Gabriel Faimann, the company's former Interim CEO, who has left to pursue other career opportunities.
Delo most recently served as Director of Integrated Supply Chain for Honeywell International's Performance, Materials and Technologies business and has held senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility during his 34 year tenure with Honeywell. He began his career with Honeywell (formerly Allied Chemical) after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University, where he also later earned his Masters' degree in Business Administration.
"I am excited to be named Chief Executive Officer for ANH," said Delo. "I look forward to the opportunity to transform ANH's operations and drive long-term growth and sustainability. I am excited to be working with ANH employees to build upon our company's reputation and develop innovative ways to successfully meet the needs of our customers, as well as expand our markets served and products offered."
EU rejects German request to review Holcim-Cemex deal 07 January 2014
Belgium: The European Commission said on 6 January 2014 that it has rejected Berlin's request to refer to the German competition authority regarding a proposed takeover by Holcim of some of Cemex's European assets. Holcim intends to acquire part of Cemex's activities in cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates in western Germany and a small number of plants and sites in France and the Netherlands.
The German competition authority had asked to review the proposed deal itself, arguing that it threatened to significantly affect competition in the cement markets of northern and western Germany. However, the Commission, which acts as the competition authority in Europe, said that the deal would affect cement markets outside of Germany such as parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and the northeast of France. "The Commission concluded that the geographic scope of the affected cement markets is wider than national and that therefore the Commission cannot refer the assessment of the transaction to Germany."
The Commission announced in October 2013 that it was opening an in-depth investigation into the proposed takeover. It has until 31 March 2014 to make a final decision.
Hope Construction Materials celebrates successful first year 06 January 2014
UK: Hope Construction Materials celebrated its first anniversary on 6 January 2014. The company has sold 2Mm3 of concrete, 1.3Mt of cement and 4Mt of aggregates in its first 12 months.
Hope was launched in January 2013 after the acquisition of 180 nationwide operational assets, including concrete plants, quarries, depots and the UK's biggest cement plant in Hope Valley, Derbyshire.
In 2013 the firm turned over almost Euro361m, which Amit Bhatia, Chairman of Hope Construction Materials, believes is testament to the dedication of the 800-strong workforce. He said, "It was always going to take time to stablise the business and start to optimise the way we run things, particularly with the scope and size of the business, but we're pleased with our progress so far."
Hope has gained widespread recognition for its dynamic approach and has already released a range of performance products that provide solutions to help to improve speed and efficiency in construction. The company is also about to launch a 'new way of working' that will improve customer service, although it is not sharing further detail at the moment.
"We plan to push on from our solid foundations and continue to build on our standing as the country's leading independent in the sector," said Bhatia.
HeidelbergCement concludes sale and transfer of cement grinding facility to JSW Steel 06 January 2014
India: HeidelbergCement India has completed the sale and transfer of its cement grinding facility situated at Raigad, Maharashtra to JSW Steel, in accordance with the Business Transfer Agreement executed between the company and JSW Steel on 5 October 2013. The sale and transfer took effect from 3 January 2014.