September 2024
Egypt: South Valley Cement more than tripled its sales year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, to US$11m from US$3.31m. The company’s net loss during the quarter was US$1.66m, down by 13% year-on-year from US$1.9m in the first quarter of 2021.
Fossil Mines to recapitalise Lafarge Zimbabwe 14 June 2022
Zimbabwe: Fossil Mines plans to keep Lafarge Zimbabwe publicly traded and to recapitalise it through investments after it completes its acquisition of the company. The Insider newspaper has reported that this will lead to an increase in the company’s cement production.
Zimbabwe consumed 1.4Mt of cement in 2021, of which 560,000t (40%) was imported. Switzerland-based Holcim agreed to sell its 76% stake in national number two producer Lafarge Zimbabwe to Fossil Mines earlier in June 2022.
Tamil Nadu Federation of Panchayat Presidents protests alleged unlawful cement plant practices 14 June 2022
India: The Tamil Nadu Federation of Panchayat Presidents, an overarching organisation for local government leaders, has begun a protest against unlawful cement plant practices in the state. The New Indian Express newspaper has reported that the federation’s president Sellam Kadamban said that limestone mines and trucks are operating illegally, creating pollution and traffic collisions.
Signapore: Researchers at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU Singapore) have successfully used bacteria to combine two abundant waste streams into clinker-free biocement. NDTV news has reported that the scientists developed the material from by combining calcium ions with urea in a mixture of industrial carbide sludge and urine. The process takes place at room temperature, reducing CO2 emissions while also offering waste management benefits.
The NTU Singapore team is presently testing the biocement on artificial beaches. It will subsequently investigate other possible large-scale applications around Singapore.
Tyre fire breaks out at Vassiliko Cement plant 14 June 2022
Cyprus: Vassiliko Cement’s Vassiliko cement plant was the site of a tyre fire in an alternative fuel (AF) storage area on 11 June 2022. The Cyprus Mail newspaper has reported that the fire begun due to a mobile shredder malfunction. Enerco Energy Recovery operates the shredder at the 2.5Mt/yr cement plant. Local residents protested the incident at the site of the plant’s former quarry on 13 June 2022.
India: Shree Digvijay Cement plans to more than double the capacity of its Digvijaygram cement plant in Gujarat’s Jamnagar District to 3Mt/yr from 1.2Mt/yr. Projects Today News has reported that the project will begin by mid-2023, and will also include the establishment of a waste heat recovery (WHR) plant.
Argentina: The National Commission for the Defence of Competition (CNDC) has concluded an investigation into the cement industry with the finding that all four Argentinian cement producers colluded to maintain high prices between 2013 and 2018. Cementera Avellaneda, Holcim Argentina, Loma Negra and Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia (PCR) reportedly increased their sales by US$178m between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018 through cost overruns generated by their control of local markets.
The CNDC ordered the Portland Cement Manufacturers Association (AFCP) to refrain from distributing competitively sensitive information production, dispatches and imports information between its member companies.
Japan: Taiheiyo Cement plans to introduce a coal surcharge for its cementitious products in September 2022 due to rising energy prices. It will use a surcharge system linked to the price of coal for one year until the end of August 2023. The first surcharge will be determined based on the price of coal in June 2022 and then disclosed in mid-August 2022. It will be revised every two months. The surcharge will be charged separately from the product price.
The cement company said that, “Although we are trying to further reduce costs, it is not possible to absorb the unprecedented rise in costs only by corporate efforts.”
Beumer Group acquires FAM Group 13 June 2022
Germany: Beumer Group has completed its acquisition of conveyor systems and loading technology supplier FAM Group.
Beumer Group says that the acquisition expands its portfolio and complements its competence in the project planning of plants with FAM Group’s know-how and global positioning throughout the entire value chain, including aftersales service.
BUA Cement helps communities in Sokoto state 13 June 2022
Nigeria: BUA Cement has donated a solar motorised borehole and medicines worth US$59,600 to eight host communities in Wamakko, Sokoto State. The company says that the efforts are aimed at alleviating the effects of local water scarcity and medicinal supply issues.