September 2024
Box International Consulting authorised by Al Jouf Cement 03 October 2012
Saudi Arabia: Box International Consulting LP, a US-based cement industry consulting firm, has been issued with a Grant of Authorisation by Al Jouf Cement Company in Saudi Arabia to provide a variety of services to Al Jouf's plant in Turaif.
"Box International is very pleased to work with Al Jouf Cement regarding its plant expansion and to support its vision of furthering the construction sector and cement market in Saudi Arabia," said Thomas D Box, president of Box International.
Box International will assist Al Jouf Cement in developing a third line at the plant with an intended capacity of 5000t/day. This will involve providing consultation and recommendations regarding plant layout and design, process upgrades, equipment, plant and facility specifications and recommendations of vendors, along with the considerations regarding integration of the plant and infrastructure.
Box International will also manage the proposal and bidding process, propose training programmes for staff, manage financing for the expansion and propose an operation and management plan for the completed plant. Currently Al Jouf Cement's plant has one line with a capacity of 5000t/day with a second line under construction with the same capacity.
Iskitimtsement output rises 23.1% 03 October 2012
Russia: RATM Holding's Iskitimcement Cement Plant has reported a rise in its output by 23.1% year-on-year to 1.12Mt for January to September 2012. Deliveries rose by 28.9% to 1.29Mt in the same period.
In July to September 2012 Iskitimtsement produced 535,000t of cement and sold 579,369t. In September 2012 the company's output reached 168,000t and sales were 187,434t. Iskitimtsement has said that it plans to boost 2012 production by 9.4% year-on-year to 1.4Mt/yr.
Nationally, cement production in Russia to expected to reach 61Mt in 2012 as the construction industry continues to drive growth. During the first half of 2012, construction output managed to maintain a growth pace above that of the gross domestic product (GDP), recording a 5.4% expansion in year-on-year terms while GDP managed to expand by only 4.5% for the same period. At the same time, the production of cement in Russia totalled nearly 27.8Mt in the first half of 2012, representing a 14.1% annual increase. The sector is expected to further intensify in the near future due to large investments by public authorities in construction projects.
Exports drive 10% sales growth at Akmene Cement 03 October 2012
Lithuania: Akmenes Cementas, Lithuania's biggest cement producer, is operating almost at full capacity as its strategy to push exports has provide successful. For 2012 Akmenes Cement is aiming for at least a 10% increase in annual sales and a rise of around 15% in revenues thanks to growing exports.
"Today we rely on exports for growth," said Akmenes Cementas CEO Arturas Zaremba. He added a forecast that cement consumption in Lithuania will decline by 5% in 2012.
Akmenes Cementas expects that its Euro101.4m modernisation project will further aid its efforts to gain a foothold in export markets. A new dry production line increasing the plant's capacity to 1.5Mt/yr is due to be completed in mid-2013. This line should reduce fuels costs by almost one third. Two existing lines, with a capacity of over 1Mt/yr, will then be decommissioned.
Rally held against Aravan Cement Plant in south Kyrgyzstan 03 October 2012
Kyrgyzstan: A rally against the Aravan Cement Plant had been held in the Aravan district of the Osh region in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Protestors demanded that cleaning filters be installed at the plant, funds be allocated to the local budget and local infrastructure be improved. In addition, they demanded that the plant owners sell cement to residents of the Aravan district at discounted prices.
The protesters have vowed to block the Aravan-Osh road if the plant's management ignores their demands. Additionally they have threatened to revoke the mandate of member of parliament Azamat Arapbaev, who is one of the plant's owners. The rally follows a residents meeting held on 12 September 2012 where similar demands were raised.
Critics of the protest have blamed professional agitators seeking money. In May 2012, a special commission conducted analysis of the air, water and soil at the plant and concluded that all the data met the required standards.
The Aravan Cement Plant started operation in September 2008 with a capacity of 200,000t/yr. About 380 people work at the site. The Aravan Cement Plant is a Kyrgyz-Chinese company.
Belarus cancels plant order with Iranian company 03 October 2012
Belarus: Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ordered the Homel Regional Executive Committee to cancel an investment agreement under which Iran's Azarab Industries Company was to build a cement plant in the Vetka district.
Under the agreement, signed in May 2010, the Iranian company was to invest at least US$200m dollars in the project and complete the plant within three years. The Belarusian authorities hoped that the plant would be put into operation within 24 months. The investor was also to be granted the right to develop two chalk deposits near Vetka for a period of 50 years and export up to 70% of the output of the 1Mt/yr plant.
Uladzimir Dvornik, head of the Homel Regional Executive Committee, said in March 2011 that although the first stage of the project was to be completed on 7 February 2011, Azarab Industries Company had not submitted an implementation report. Instead, in January 2011, the regional government received a draft lease agreement for land plots from the company, which contained provisions contravening Belarusian regulations. In March 2011 the Homel Regional Executive Committee sent a letter to the Iranian company to assure it of a favourable decision on its suggestions with regard to a fixed lease rate for 50 years.
"There has yet been neither reply nor action from the Iranian company, which does not contribute to the implementation of the investment project," said Dvornik. The regional government is now looking for new investors for the plant.
Iran constructing cement factory in Venezuela 03 October 2012
Venezuela: Managing Director of the Organization for Development and Renovation of Mines and Mining Industry, Majid Tooklani, has said that Iran is constructing a 1Mt/yr cement plant in Servasul, Venezuela.
"The first phase of the project is underway and the second phase will begin within four months," Tooklani said. He added that the project is a joint investment venture by Iran and Venezuela with 30 Iranian companies providing the host country with technical and engineering services.
Weston remains on hold until 2013 02 October 2012
New Zealand: Holcim has delayed the decision to build a new cement plant in Weston until 2013. It is now the fifth time since 2009 that the multinational producer has failed to confirm its plans for the US$400m project.
"In this very challenging environment the Weston project continues to have the support of Holcim and the team are refining project information and working on various elements to ensure that the project proposal remains in a state of readiness for future consideration," said Holcim New Zealand capital projects manager Ken Cowie. He blamed the 'uncertain' international financial situation for the delay but denied that the project had been scrapped. The replacement for the Westport plant will have a capacity of 0.86Mt/yr.
Soboce seeks 10Mm3 gas for US$160m plant 01 October 2012
Bolivia: Soboce's planned cement plant in Yacuses, Santa Cruz will require 10Mm3 of natural gas supplies, Soboce's main shareholder Samuel Doria Medina has said. According to the project's viability study, the plant will also need a pipeline to be built and a gas supply guarantee from state-run oil and gas firm Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).
Soboce estimates that the plant will cost US$160m to build. The project will be able to generate energy for its own consumption using natural gas. Soboce and YPFB have already built a 19.6km pipeline to supply gas to another plant in Viacha.
Dalmia Cement buys Adhunik Cement for US$106m 28 September 2012
India: Dalmia Cement Bharat, a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Enterprises, has signed an agreement to acquire Adhunik Cement for US$106m. The acquisition and consideration will be made in multiple tranches, subject to adjustments and various other terms and conditions.
Adhunik Cement is a joint venture between two Calcutta–based companies, Adhunik Group and MSP Group. Previously the company invested US$133m to set up a 1.5Mt/yr cement plant in the limestone-rich Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. It also set up a 25MW coal-based captive power plant for the site.
Dalmia Bharat Enterprise is a cement manufacturer with plants in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with a capacity of 9Mt/yr. The company is engaged in the business of cement, thermal power and other businesses.
Eagle Materials to acquire two Lafarge plants in US 27 September 2012
US: Eagle Materials Inc. has issued a press release announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Lafarge North America to purchase Lafarge's Sugar Creek plant in Missouri and Tulsa plant in Oklahoma, which have a combined cement capacity of 1.6Mt/yr. The deal also includes six distribution terminals, two aggregates quarries, eight ready-mix concrete plants and a fly ash business.
Eagle will also enter into a transition sales agreement to supply certain Lafarge operations with cement for four to five years and an agreement with a Lafarge affiliate to supply low-cost alternative fuels to the acquired operations.
The purchase price for the group of assets is US$446m, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The acquisition will increase Eagle's cement capacity by 60% and it is expected to close in November or December 2012, pending regulatory approvals.
Steven Rowley, Eagle Materials' President and Chief Executive Officer, said that the agreement represents a major milestone event for the company. "Our stated strategy has been to grow the cement and aggregates side of our business. Our first priority has been to acquire cement plants that connect but do not overlap with the market reach of our existing plants."
"These two high-quality Lafarge cement plants are a compelling fit with our objectives and the transaction meets our stringent criteria for new investment," continued Rowley. "These assets will allow us to participate more fully in the US construction industry recovery. Additionally this transaction further positions the company near energy growth markets, where there is growing demand for our specialty oil well cement, along with our newly-offered high-quality northern white frac sand. These new cement, concrete and aggregates assets will immediately contribute earnings and cash flow for our stockholders. Moreover they will provide significant near-term opportunities for synergies and earnings growth."