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Displaying items by tag: Cemex
Cemex introduces ‘Ecoperating’ seal
27 June 2012Mexico: Cemex has introduced a new 'Ecoperating' seal that will identify the products and services from its portfolio of building solutions that have an outstanding sustainability performance. Ecoperating is a seal that was developed through a rigorous internal process that measured the environmental or social impact of a wide range of building solutions that Cemex offers, from low-CO2 cement and other building materials to services such as paperless invoicing. Among the most relevant criteria for a product or service to qualify for the Ecoperating seal are sustainable attributes, like thermal insulation, use of recycled raw material and contribution to a reduction in CO2 Footprint.
"Cemex is well known for a number of services and initiatives that significantly reduce environmental impacts or have a highly positive effect on society," said Vicente Saiso, Cemex's sustainability director. "The Ecoperating seal will help our clients identify Cemex's initiative to foster its sustainable development through the building solutions Cemex provides to the markets it serves."
The Ecoperating seal is being introduced around the world gradually. In June 2012 in a number of Cemex's cement and concrete products were given the seal in Croatia and the seal will reach Egypt, the Philippines, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico during the third quarter of 2012. Countries in northern Europe, South America and the Caribbean and the remainder of Asia will be given the seal in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first half of 2013.
Diamond cement tanker tribute to Queen
06 June 2012UK: To celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Cemex UK has decorated a cement tanker, aggregate tipper, concrete mixer and curtain sider with the Union Jack. The company's fleet of over 1000 vehicles travel thousands of miles every week to deliver essential building materials for construction projects, helping the company to build a 'Greater Britain.'
The Union Jack vehicles will be travelling around the country visiting Cemex sites and delivering loads to key customers.
Image courtesy of Cemex UK
Cemex sole cement supplier for Panama City metro
30 May 2012Panama: Mexican cement manufacturer Cemex is the sole cement supplier for Panama City's metro line 1.
Cemex will provide nearly 0.1Mt of cement for the construction of the line, which will run 13.6km from the San Miguelito neighbourhood in the north of the city to the Albrook bus terminal in the south, with 11 stations in total. Construction is being carried out by Spanish firm FCC and Brazil's Odebrecht at an estimated total cost of US$1.45bn.
Line 1 will be both above and below ground will and include tunnels, trenches and viaducts. It is expected to have an initial capacity to transport 15,000 people per hour in 2014, rising to 40,000 by 2035. The line will make Panama the first Central American country to have a metro system.
Cemex turns to the wind at Victorville
23 May 2012US: Cemex USA has announced a novel plan to install four 120m-tall wind turbines at one of its US cement terminals and quarry in order to cut carbon emissions and energy costs.
The Victorville Planning Commission has unanimously approved the two turbines proposed at Cemex's cement manufacturing plant, with the company stating the project would help keep jobs in the Victor Valley.
"Our operations will continue at Victorville even if the turbine permits are not approved," said Cemex spokeswoman Sara Engdahl. "However, the wind turbine project at our Victorville site is beneficial not only to our operations but to the environment as well. The project will contribute to the local economy through jobs created for the construction and engineering of the turbine, and the project directly partners with California-based Foundation Windpower."
The two turbines in Victorville will produce an estimated 6500MWh of electricity in an average year, enough to sustain 650 average homes, according to the company. The other two proposed turbines will be built at the Black Mountain Quarry in an unincorporated area of Apple Valley. They are under review by San Bernardino County.
The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilise energy costs for Cemex, while preparing the company to comply with future carbon emission requirements, according to Cemex's proposal to the city of Victorville.
"The wind turbine project at our Victorville plant is part of our vision and commitment to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment," said Engdahl. "Cemex is increasingly using renewable energy to generate power for our operations."
She added that Foundation Windpower began working on foundations of the Victorville site in August 2011. It is scheduled to start erecting the turbines in September 2012.
Cemex loss narrows in first quarter of 2012
26 April 2012Mexico: Mexican cement giant Cemex has reported that sales growth in its operations in the United States, Central and South America and the Caribbean helped it to narrow its first-quarter loss in 2012.
"The favourable performance in most of our regions leads us to believe that we are in the initial stages of a turnaround," said Fernando Gonzalez, Cemex's executive vice president of finance and administration, who added that the quarter marked Cemex's sixth consecutive quarter of top-line growth.
Sales rose by 4% year-on-year in the January-March 2012 period to US$3.5bn. Higher sales in the US helped compensate for weaknesses in Mexico and Europe, although the US operations were still a drag on operating earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).
Cemex said its operating EBITDA rose by 7% on the year to US$567m. On a like-to-like basis for its ongoing operations and adjusting for currency fluctuations, operating EBITDA increased by 10%.
Cemex's net loss for the quarter was US$26m, narrower than a loss of US$229m loss a year earlier.
Cemex to build two waste recycling plants in UK
23 April 2012UK: Cemex is planning to start building two new waste recycling plants in the UK later in 2012. As part of the project up to 30 new jobs operating a site in Rugby, Warwickshire will be created.
Cemex is working with recycling management company Sita UK to produce the alternative fuel, Climafuel, which is made out of domestic, commercial and industrial waste. It plans to build two new waste recycling plants, one in Birmingham and the other in Malpass Farm, next to its existing Rugby cement plant. Work is due to start later in 2012 with an opening date set for 2014. The Birmingham plant is due to start operation later in 2012 and it will also provide fuel for the Rugby Cemex plant.
Together, the two plants will be able to produce and supply up to 250,000t of Climafuel to Rugby which is currently permitted to use up to 65% Climafuel in its fuel mix. A current application to the Environment Agency could see this increase to 80%.
Dan Panormo, Cemex's renewable energy manager, said "With the fuel coming from within a 30 mile radius of the cement plant from Birmingham and subsequently from Malpass Farm, it guarantees the environmental credentials of this alternative fuel."
Philippines prices rise in response to fuel increases
29 March 2012Philippines: Cement producers in the Philippines are raising their prices, as increases in fuel prices have not shown any sign of abating and the peak of the construction season is starting.
Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare Zenaida C Maglaya said, that based on the Price Monitoring report released on Friday 23 March 2012, prices of two brands of cement Republic (Lafarge) and Rizal (Cemex) had increased. However, the price of Holcim Philippines Inc. dropped by 2.5% from February to March 2012. In June 2011 Holcim raised its prices by 6% in Luzon. The three global firms dominate the Philippine industry.
Cost of power and coal accounts for 40% of a cement company's total production expenses in the Philippines. Most of the cement firms source their coal supply from Semirara Coal Corp. Construction activities are higher during the summer months, normally starting early in the year and peaking in May.
Construction activity was fuelled by private sector spending in 2011, as the government did not spend much on infrastructure projects. However the Aquino administration has started accelerating investments and implementation of major infrastructure projects in 2012. Both infrastructure and private sector investments in property developments, including housing and commercial establishments, are expected to boost demand for construction materials, including cement.
Cemex starts paying its tax backlog
14 March 2012Mexico: Cemex has paid 20% of the US$361m in taxes it owes the Mexican government, with the rest due in January 2013.
The company said it made a US$72m payment on 1 March 2012. It said it has an option to extend the January 2013 obligation and opt for 36 instalments instead, a move that would cost the company a bit more.
"Cemex thinks it has adequate provisions to meet the (tax) requirement," the company said in a statement.
In 2008 the Supreme Court overturned a ruling that protected Cemex from paying taxes linked to investments in offshore tax havens. The court cited several articles in Mexico's income tax law that required Mexican companies to pay taxes locally on investments in countries where there are no taxes or where levies are 75% lower than in Mexico.
Venezuela: Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez has authorised the transfer of US$10m to build a new quarry to help stimulate cement production in the country. The executive also greenlighted a measure to change local cement firm Cemex Venezuela's name to Venezolana de Cementos, as well as measures to develop and strengthen the firm.
The Venezuelan government nationalised Cemex Venezuela, formerly operated by Mexican cement maker Cemex in August 2008. The Mexican firm received US$600m in compensation in 2011.
Chávez also said that future investments for the cement sector would aim to develop relevant technology, perform environmental impact studies and improve benefits for cement workers.
Zambrano raps CFC over ‘attitude of vengeance’
29 February 2012Mexico: Cemex Chairman and Chief Executive Lorenzo Zambrano has slammed Mexico's antitrust commission and reiterated that the company intends to appeal a fine for allegedly blocking competitors from bringing cement into Mexico. Earlier in February 2012, the Federal Competition Commission (CFC), fined Cemex US$800,000 following an investigation into a failed attempt by a competitor to import cement via a silo ship in 2004.
"We've done nothing illegal," Zambrano said, adding that Cemex used legal measures to combat, "what I personally consider was going to be contraband." Zambrano charged the CFC with having an 'attitude of vengeance,' that he said Cemex had suffered for some time. "They didn't prove anything but imposed the fine. We're going to appeal and we're going to win," he added.
The antitrust investigation followed a complaint by a group that was blocked from importing cement in Mexico from Russia in 2004. Comercio para el Desarrollo Mexicano (CDM), formed by local entrepreneurs and several foreign partners, was kept from unloading the shipment. The CFC voted 4-1 to fine Cemex for what it said was a boycott. The CFC said that it had determined that Cemex has substantial power in the wholesale market for cement, and that it systematically carried out actions to keep out imported cement, including using its influence in the cement industry chamber.
Zambrano said Cemex's share of the domestic market is below 50%, when in earlier years, after a series of acquisitions, it had been as high as 68%. "Nothing's been said about the millions of tons of cement capacity that have been installed in Mexico by our competitors," he added.