September 2024
Belgium: Cembureau, the European Cement Association, says it will undertake a review of the targets set out in its 2050 Low Carbon Roadmap (2013/2018) in order to align the industry’s efforts with the carbon neutrality objectives contained in the European Green Deal published in December 2019. Following this reassessment, the association says it publish a revised low-carbon roadmap setting out the key role of cement and concrete in the circular economy and a path to achieving carbon neutrality along its value chain in Europe by 2050. Cembureau expects the revised roadmap to be published in early spring 2020.
“As an industry we are determined to ensure that we play our part in helping Europe to meet its emissions reduction targets. With concrete, our industry has a sustainable building material that is uniquely positioned as an essential enabler of the transition to a carbon neutral society,” said Cembureau’s president Raoul de Parisot.
Value of Bangladeshi cement exports falls by 13% year-on-year 15 January 2020
Bangladesh: Producers exported US$5.03m-worth of cement and clinker from Bangladesh in the six months to 31 December 2019 - down by 13 from US$5.75m in the corresponding period of 2018 and 1.6% below the government’s target of US$5.11m. Arab News has reported that the recipients of Bangladeshi cement and clinker included India, Myanmar, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Construction information provider says that imports are crippling the South African cement industry 15 January 2020
South Africa: Morag Evans, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Databuild, says that local cement manufacturers are being ‘severely’ undermined by cheap imports from countries such as China, Vietnam and Pakistan. She adds that the government’s failure to stem the influx of these products could have a severe detrimental impact on an already struggling industry.
“In an industry already in the grips of a severe downturn owing to the decline in infrastructure development, not only are these imports negatively impacting the competitiveness of our local manufacturers, but independent studies have shown the quality of these international products to be inferior,” said Evans.
She also cited quality concerns with imported cement mentioning a study conducted by local manufacturer PPC. It found that, from 14 products tested from 10 different producers, most were either over or underweight and were also of inconsistent quality.
Evans has supported the Concrete Institute’s lobbying for a 45% import tariff on cement imports. However, she acknowledges that such a move could raise the price of cement and increase inflation in the general economy.
Databuild provides information about the construction industry in South Africa.
Refratechnik acquires Queensland Magnesia 15 January 2020
Australia: German refractory producer Refratechnik has acquired Queensland Magnesia (QMAG). The acquisition adds 300,000Mt/yr of magnesium oxide to Refratechnik’s supply of raw materials. The company said, “With a common focus on performance excellence, we will deliver greater value to our customers.”
Cementos Argos Newberry plant and Atlanta grinding plant win WHC Conservation Certificates 15 January 2020
US: The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has awarded Conservation Certificates to Cementos Argos’ 1.5Mt/yr integrated Newberry plant in Florida and 0.6Mt/yr Atlanta grinding plant in Georgia. Cementos Argos has installed a bat roost at the Newberry plant and planted bee and butterfly gardens with bird boxes for year-round resident bluebirds. The company said that the certification signals its ‘long-term commitment to managing quality habitats for wildlife.’
India’s installed capacity set to exceed 500Mt/yr in 2020 15 January 2020
India: Integrated cement and grinding plants expansions by companies including Dalmia Bharat, JK Cement and Aditya Birla subsidiary UltraTech of an additional 23Mt/yr are set to bring India’s total installed cement capacity to 508Mt/yr by the end of 2020. Business Standard newspaper has reported that steady prices year-on-year and ‘softening input costs’ have facilitated the expansions in spite of a ‘flattish trend in industry-wide volume growth.’
Village meeting to record public opinion of Dalmia Bharat mining expansion proposals 14 January 2020
India: Dalmia Bharat has successfully lobbied the Sundargarh, Orisha district government to request the inclusion of the company’s proposed 446 acre expansion to its Lanjiberna limestone and dolomite mine in the agenda of a village meeting in Kukuda, in which public opinion and suggestions will be recorded. The New India Express Newspaper has reported that, due to the special status of Kukuda as a Scheduled Tribal area, the village meeting forms a necessary preliminary step prior to district government permission of planned works. In October 2018, villagers in nearby Jhagarpur successfully blocked construction of Dalmia Bharat’s proposed Industrial Training Institute. The Lanjiberna mine will serve Dalmia Bharat’s 2.3Mt/yr integrated Rajgangpur plant, which was completed in 2019 at a cost of US$281m and awaits commissioning.
Siam Cement Group announces joint venture with BIMobject 14 January 2020
Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s concrete and aggregates division SCC Concrete Products and Aggregates (CPAC) has entered into a joint venture agreement with Swedish digitisation specialist BIMobject for the formation of BIMobject Thailand Co., Ltd. (BIMobject TH) on a 51:49 basis in favour of CPAC. This will provide building information modelling (BIM) - a service platform for use in conceptual design, material selection, and construction simulation of customers’ projects. Siam Cement Group president and CEO Roongrote Rangsiyopash said, “This is in line with SCC’s strategic plan to extend its breadth of innovative construction solutions.” The joint venture will have US$170,000 registered capital.
India: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has lobbied the government in its Pre-Budget Memorandum 2020-21 over customs duties. The body is suggesting a reduction on the customs duty on packaging for use in bagging cement to 5% from 10%. There is currently no import tax on cement and duties of 5% and below on various clinker constituents.
Austria: w&p Zement has announced that it has donated an ABB robotic arm from a laboratory at its 0.8Mt/yr Weitersdorf plant to the mechatronics department of Klagenfurt Higher Technical College (HTL). The company replaced the 10kg-capacity, 1.55m armature with a fully automated POLAB cement laboratory as part of an upgrade for Industry 4.0. w&p Zement Weitersdorf operations manager Florian Salzer said, “We are pleased that the robot will continue to be of use, increasing the quality of technical training and thus laying the foundation for training tomorrow's top specialists.” He said that the equipment is in perfect condition because of the low weight of samples for which it was used.