September 2024
Trinidad Cement launches ECO reduced-CO2 cement production 19 October 2021
Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidad Cement has launched production of its new reduced-CO2 cement, called ECO, at its Claxton Bay cement plant. Trinidad & Tobago Government News has reported that the company invested US$73,800 in the development of the product.
Hanson UK drivers accept pay deal 19 October 2021
UK: 200 Hanson UK cement truck drivers have ended a one-month strike after accepting an improved pay deal. Construction Enquirer News has reported that the producer has retroactively increased drivers’ pay by 2.8% from 1 January 2021 and agreed to increase pay by a further 3.3% from 1 January 2022. Drivers’ overnight allowance will retroactively increase to Euro49.7/night from 1 October 2021, and the company has committed to a transformation of bank holiday working arrangements. Additionally, its management will share its fleet replacement programme with its drivers.
Corporación Noroeste completes Cementos Balboa acquisition 18 October 2021
Spain: Corporación Noroeste has completed its acquisition of Cementos Balboa. The companies agreed to the deal in June 2021. Agencia EFE News has reported that the acquisition brings parent company Votorantim Cimentos’ installed cement capacity to 57.4Mt/yr globally.
Nepal Electricity Authority completes switching station for Huaxin Cement and Vaidya Group’s Rorang cement plant 18 October 2021
Nepal: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has completed and commissioned a switching station to supply power for Huaxin Cement and Vaidya Group’s upcoming Dhading cement plant in Rorang. The Republic newspaper has reported that, when operational, the plant will receive 20MW of power via the switching station. Two transmission lines with capacities of 33kV and 11kV connect the facilities.
The US$125m Dhading cement plant awaits commissioning following the completion of its construction in August 2021.
UltraTech Cement to increase sales and profit in second quarter of 2022 financial year 18 October 2021
India: Ratings agency Emkay Global has forecast an 11% year-on-year rise in UltraTech Cement’s second-quarter sales in the 2022 financial year to US$1.5bn from US$1.36bn. It expects the producer’s cement sales to rise by 6% in the period to 20.4Mt, and its net profit to grow by 6.4% to US$174m from US$163m.
The Economic Times newspaper has reported that Emkay Global predicted that UltraTech Cement’s costs will rise by 7% and that its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation per tonne of cement will fall by 5% year-on-year.
Cockburn Cement commences Kwinana grinding plant upgrade project 18 October 2021
Australia: Cockburn Cement has begun a US$152m upgrade of its Kwinana grinding plant. Business News has reported that the project will consolidate the company’s Kwinana and Munster grinding operations at a single 1.5Mt/yr plant. The company says that this will increase its production capacity by 36% and reduce its cement’s CO2 emissions by 20%.
The company will manage operations at the plant directly. Managing director Nick Miller said "We've all seen through the Covid-19 outbreak that domestic manufacture of essential products such as cement and industrial lime becomes critically important. Reliability of supply has become a very important driver for decision makers." He added "We have turned away from a turnkey contract to a self-delivery model. Part of the self-delivery model is to access small to medium sub-contractors in the market, where we have seen better value in what is a very heated market."
Sweden: Cementa has announced that its Stockholm cement terminal will no longer receive deliveries of its Slite brand cement and will instead begin solely stocking the company’s fly ash cement from 1 December 2021. The producer says that the transition will reduce the carbon footprint of the terminal’s products by 30,000t/yr. Slite cement will continue to be available from the nearby Köping and Oxelösund cement terminals.
Russia: Krasnoyarsk Cement has installed a continuous monitoring system for emission control at its Krasnoyarsk cement plant. It carried out the upgrade under the government’s national Ecology project. The system will transmit daily average emissions data to the Krasnoyarsk Territory Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management. Members of the public will be able to access the submissions on the ministry’s website.
Managing Director Dmitry Kireev said “According to the current legislation, the installation was supposed to start working before 31 December 2028. However, due to the fact that the enterprise is located within the city, we voluntarily assumed increased obligations and launched online monitoring of emissions ahead of schedule."
India: Rain Industries has expanded the capacity of its Kurnool grinding plant in Andhra Pradesh. Reuters News has reported that the expansion enlarges the plant’s capacity by 38% to 2.8Mt/yr from 2Mt/yr.
Taiheiyo Cement reports increased costs 15 October 2021
Japan: Taiheiyo Cement says that the cost of producing its cement has increased throughout 2021. The company said the coal prices have risen due to increased coal demand in China and a reduction in exports from coal-producing countries. It anticipates further rises in the price of coal. Additionally, it foresees a rise in maintenance costs as the equipment at its plants nears the end of its service life. The producer says that it is endeavouring to improve productivity and reduce costs.