September 2024
Votorantim announces adherence to No Dismissals Movement 21 April 2020
Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has said that no employee will lose their job before July 2020 as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. It joins 3300 other employers across the country as part of the No Dismissals Movement. Votorantim Cimentos CEO Marcelo Castelli said, “Our goal is to reassure our employees and their families, and to help minimise the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Ghana: Diamond Cement Group has donated 250t of cement and US$17,500 to the government to support its efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in Ghana. The Ghanaian Times newspaper has reported that the cement will be used for hospital repairs. Diamond Cement Group chair Mukesh Patel said, “It is crucial that we all work together to minimise the negative impact of the pandemic on economic activities.”
Government lifts lockdown for rural cement production 20 April 2020
India: Operations of industrial units in rural areas are clear to resume as of 20 April 2020, subject to local permissions and social distancing rules. Dion News Service has reported that JK Lakshmi Cement has resumed operations at two grinding units in Gujarat, JK Cement has resumed reduced operations at its 3.0Mt/yr integrated Muddapur plant in Karnataka and UltraTech has resumed operations ‘at some of the company’s locations.’ Ambuja Cements, ACC, ICC and India Cements all announced plans to return to full capacity utilisation in phases.
As part of phase two of India’s coronavirus lockdown, public spaces remain closed and public transport is suspended until 3 May 2020.
Armenia resumes cement production 20 April 2020
Armenia: The government has included cement production under a list of permitted economic activities able to resume from 16 April 2020. Azbarez News has reported that the present lockdown is scheduled to continue until 15 May 2020. Cement and clinker imports from neighbouring Iran, historically the main source of construction cement for Armenia, have continued throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Shanshui Cement suggests first-quarter loss rise 20 April 2020
China: Shanshui Cement has said that it expects its first-quarter losses to rise year-on-year in 2020 due to coronavirus. ET Net News has reported that, though losses are normal in the quarter containing the winter shutdown, they are expected to have been greater than usual in 2020 due to decreased sales and delays to startup caused by the outbreak.
SLK Cement supplies cement for coronavirus hospital 20 April 2020
Russia: Italy-based Buzzi Unicem subsidiary SKL Cement has supplied 400t of cement to the site of an upcoming coronavirus hospital in Omsk, Omsk Oblast. SLK Cement CEO Andrei Immoreev said, “In a difficult time for the whole world, our company continues to work to provide cement for construction sites of regional and federal facilities,” according to AMF News.
On 16 April 2020 the government launched a raft of measures, including subsidies for construction companies to keep jobs open and paid, to help the sector to recover after the crisis. and Major infrastructure projects in all regions will continue.
Nigeria: BUA Cement has donated 350 bags of rice and 22,500 facemasks to people affected by the coronavirus outbreak in Okpella, Okpekpe and Ibie, Edo State and Elele, Rivers State. BUA Cement CEO Yusuf Binji said, “As a responsible organisation, we understand the plight of our host communities. We believe this donation will go a long way to ameliorate the negative effect of the lock¬down.”
As of 20 April 2020, Nigeria had 627 coronavirus cases – 21 fatal.
Thailand: Siam City Cement has closed the production lines at its Plant 1 integrated cement plant in Saraburi province due to a lack of demand resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement the company said that, “The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is seriously affecting the overall economic system and has already caused the global business and industrial sectors. The impact on us has been the drastic decline in demand both from domestic and regional markets.” It added that the closure was not expected to have an adverse impact on its operations. It is offering a ‘Mutual Separation Plan’ to affected workers in accordance with and beyond local labour regulations.
Normal production will continue at its Plant 2 and Plant 3 sites. In its 2019 annual report the cement producer said that it operated three cement plants in Kang Koi District, Saraburi Province with a total of six kilns and a combined clinker capacity of 13Mt/yr. However, only five kilns were in operation at this time with a combined production of 12Mt/yr.
This news story has been updated following clarification from Insee Cement.
Larsen & Toubro wins ACC Ametha contract 17 April 2020
India: ACC Cement has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for work on its upcoming 1.0Mt/yr integrated Ametha plant in Kathnl, Madhya Pradesh to Larsen & Toubro. The Press Trust of India has reported that the 9500t/day cement plant will have a clinker capacity of 3.0Mt/yr. The value of the contract is reportedly US$131m.
Cementos Cosmos cuts 9650t of CO2 in 2019 with alternative fuel substitution at Oural plant 17 April 2020
Spain: A 25% alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate has accounted for a 9650t reduction in CO2 emissions at Cementos Cosmos’ 0.7Mt/yr Oural, Galicia plant, lowering the specific CO2 emissions of its clinker by 45kg/t. A main constituent of the AF mix was olive stones. Cementos Cosmos Oural plant managing director Jaime Santoalla said, “At Cementos Cosmos, we accept our responsibility to meet the global objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”