September 2024
Switzerland: Global cement producers have reduced CO2 emissions by 17% per tonne of cementitious product since 1990. Participating cement producers reduced their specific net CO2 emissions per tonne of cementitious product to 629kg/t in 2011 from 756kg/t in 2011. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)'s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) has published the data in its 'Getting the Numbers Right' (GNR) database update for 2011.
"GNR has become established as a valuable source of independently-verified emissions data, which is now used globally by the cement industry to improve energy efficiency and further reduce emissions," said Philippe Fonta, WBCSD managing director. The WBCSD added that the GNR figures provide evidence of the gradual decoupling of emissions and cement output, which demonstrates the significant progress made by the cement industry.
According to the data, the four main drivers for the reduction in emissions have been investment in more efficient kiln technology, increasing use of alternative fuels such as biomass, reduction in clinker content and an 8% decrease in electricity use per tonne of cement since 1990.
The 2011 GNR data comprised 55% of cement production outside of China, with 96% coverage in Europe spanning 967 individual facilities. The 2011 report included data from Thailand, Morocco, Philippines and Egypt for the first time.
US: VHSC Cement has announced the commercial release of Pozzoslag 1.2, a cementitious material made using coal fly ash as a raw material. VHSC promotes its product as a partial replacement to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), offering early set times, greater long-term strength and enhanced concrete durability. Users are also able to reduce their chemical additive packages and lower the total amount of cementitious binder material.
"Pozzoslag 1.2 is created using a patented process that was introduced into commercial operations in November of 2012. This new product uses raw fly ash as a base material to produce a cementitious blend of material that meets grade 120 slag strengths based on ASTM 989 testing protocols. Using Pozzoslag in concrete allows very high durability at routine replacement factors in the 55-65% range," said Buddy Pike, president of VHSC Cement.
VHSC Cement developed Pozzoslag to overcome the early set time issues that have historically hindered the use of higher volumes of fly ash and slag in many cement applications. Currently this process is used to produce materials that are currently being used in ready mix concrete, highways, roads, building foundations and precast and concrete products.
Pozzoslag 1.2 from the Limestone facility in Texas meets ASTM C989 performance specifications as a Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS). These products meet Grade 120 slag requirements.
Holcim agrees to pay fine at Hagerstown 17 July 2013
US: Holcim (US), the current owner-operator of the Hagerstown cement plant in Hagerstown, Maryland and St. Lawrence Cement, which previously owned the same facility, have agreed to pay a US$700,000 fine and improve emission controls at the facility to settle alleged air pollution violations, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The action against the Hagerstown plant is part of an on-going nationwide EPA effort to tighten pollution controls in the cement industry.
The proposed federal court consent decree requires Holcim to install 'advanced pollution controls' at the plant, Holcim also pledged to spend at least US$150,000 to replace outdated environmental protection equipment.
"It has been a long standing issue and now the company feels that it really is in its best interest to find a resolution," said Holcim spokeswoman Robin DeCarlo.
The Department of Justice filed suit on behalf of EPA in 2011 accusing Holcim and the plant's prior owner, St. Lawrence Cement, of violating the federal Clean Air Act from 2003 to 2007 by modifying the facility's cement kiln in a way that produced 'significant' increased emissions of SO2.
TXI posts improved results for 2012-13 17 July 2013
US: Texas Industries, Inc. (TXI), the leading cement producer in Texas and a major player in the Californian cement market, has reported financial results for the quarter and year ending on 31 May 2013. Net income for the quarter was US$44.1m. Net income including income net of tax from discontinued operations of US$28.5m. Net income for the quarter ending on 31 May 2012 was US$60.2m
Net income for the year ending on 31 May 2013 was US$24.6m and included a pre-tax gain on the disposition of discontinued operations of US$41.1m. Net income for the year ending on 31 May 2012 was US$7.5m.
"The fourth quarter certainly benefited from the continuing recovery of construction activity in our major markets," said Mel Brekhus, CEO of TXI. "Shipments of all products reflect double digit percentage increases compared to a year ago."
"We also achieved two strategic milestones during the quarter," continued Brekhus. "The commissioning of our 1.4Mt/yr cement kiln at our central Texas plant (Hunter) was finished late in the quarter and we completed the acquisition of 42 ready-mix plants in east Texas. Both events significantly improve our ability to take advantage of the strong recovery under way in Texas."
Three cement plants workers killed in Sinai ambush 17 July 2013
Egypt: At least three people have been killed and 17 wounded in a grenade attack upon a bus carrying cement plant workers in the north of the Sinai Peninsula. Security and medical sources reported that suspected militants used rocket-propelled grenades to attack the bus.
Uzbekistan: The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (AMMP) plans to build a US$250m cement plant in the Surkhandarya region in southern Uzbekistan. The Government of Uzbekistan has instructed AMMP to start negotiations with Turkey's Dal Teknik Makina on the project's implementation. The plant will have a cement production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr and should be completed by 2017.
The project will be financed by AMMP with loans from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and Uzbek banks. Previously the plant was to be built by the national oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz but it failed to attract foreign partners to the project.
AMMP and Dal Teknik Makina are also collaborating on a cement plant in the Jizakh region of Uzbekistan. The plant is due to be built by the end of 2014.
China's cement output rises 9.7% in H1 17 July 2013
China: China's cement output has increased by 9.7% year-on-year to 1.1Bt for the first half of 2013, according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In June 2013 cement output increased by 8.8% year-on-year to 228Mt.
Indonesian cement sales growth slows in H1 17 July 2013
Indonesia: Indonesian cement sales growth has fallen to 7.5% at 27.8Mt for the first six months of 2013 from 25.9Mt in the same period in 2012, according to the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI). Year-on-year sales grew by 15% for the January to June period between 2011 and 2012. The deceleration in cement sales is expected to continue in the second half of 2013 due to a reduction in infrastructure development.
Reasons for slower national growth in the first half of 2013 include fewer infrastructure projects, falling commodity prices that have affected development in resource-rich provinces and more frequent rain, according to ASI chairman Widodo Santoso. Sales in Java, the main driver of growth in the first months of 2013, rose by 9.2% to 15.5Mt. Meanwhile, sales outside Java rose by 5.38% to 12.4Mt.
State-owned cement producer PT Semen Indonesia said that the 7.5% growth in nationwide cement sales was still higher than sales growth before 2011. Figures from the ASI showed domestic cement sales rose 14.5% in 2012, 17.7% in 2011, 6% in 2010 and only 0.9% in 2009.
Cimpor starts imports to northern Brazil 16 July 2013
Brazil: Portuguese cement producer Cimpor, which has been controlled by the Brazilian diversified holding group Camargo Corrêa since June 2012, has started its first exports to northern Brazil.
The first shipment of 28,000t/yr of cement reached the port of Manaus, northwestern Brazil in July 2013, according to local press. Cimpor's main rivals in this region will be Brazilian sector players Votorantim Cimentos and Joao Santos.
Camargo Corrêa's subsidiary InterCement, which owns directly Cimpor, projects to import some 70,000t/yr of Portuguese cement to Brazil in 2013. Cimpor is also targeting exports to Bolivia amid the continuing severe economic downturn in Portugal.
Madras to install limestone beneficiation plants 15 July 2013
India: Madras Cements is to set up limestone beneficiation plants to help it improve its cement raw material resources and extend the lifespan of its limestone mines. Once the beneficiation plant is in place, low-grade limestone will be processed to 12.5% SiO2 content. The cement plant will then use equal quantities of beneficiated and high grade limestone.
Madras will install the first of such plant at a cost of US$5m at Alathiyur in Tamil Nadu, where it has a 3Mt/yr cement plant. Once the 400t/hr beneficiation unit is stabilised, the company will establish similar facilities at other plants, according to A V Dharmakrishnan, Mardas' CEO. He said that, following the installation of the plants, the company will be able to avoid wasting huge quantities of its limestone supplies, extending the life of its limestone quarries.
Currently Madras' limestone can have up to 30% SiO2 content can be as high as 30%. It is either rejected or blended with high-quality limestone (8% SiO2) purchased from an outside source.