Displaying items by tag: GCW108
Zimbabwe: The Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company has commenced its first phase of upgrading and refurbishing its Gweru factory. Work on the cement mill and rotary kiln is set to increase the clinker production capacity up to 0.2Mt/yr by the end of 2013. A second phase, also due for completion in 2013, will upgrade warehousing and storage facilities. Further upgrade work is planned for 2014.
"We are upgrading the capacity and efficiency of our cement mill so as to meet growing local and regional demand. The cement mill will be modernised with third generation technology that will immensely improve our efficiency and quality of product. This technology is also the first of its kind in Zimbabwe," said the company in a statement.
The Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company is the product of a joint business venture between a Chinese foreign direct investment partner, China Building Material Industrial Corporation for Foreign Econo-Technical Co-operation (CBMC), and the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe Limited. CBMC contributed 65% of the original funding in the form of modern technology and expertise while IDC provided land, civil works, manpower and local knowledge. The cement plant has been in operation since 2001.
Pakistan: Domestic cement sales in Pakistan reached 25.1Mt in the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year that ended on 30 June 2013, according to data released by All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association Pakistan (APCMA). This is the first time domestic sales of cement in the country have risen above 25Mt/yr. In 2011 – 2012 domestic cement sales stood at 24Mt.
Overall the industry despatched 33.4Mt of cement in the 2012 – 2013 year, with 8.3Mt exported. This is below the record of total cement sales set in 2009 – 2010 of 34.2Mt with 10.7Mt of exports. Data for June 2013 showed that construction activities slowed down, following the Pakistan general election in May 2013. Domestic cement despatches declined by 3% to 2.21Mt in June 2013 from 2.29Mt in June 2012. Exports fell by 9% to 0.67Mt from 0.73Mt.
A spokesman for APCMA hoped that the current fiscal year would lead the cement industry to high productivity as the new government is giving due importance to infrastructure and accelerated economic growth. He added that with proper planning and prudent economic policies, Pakistan has the capability to consume its entire installed cement production capacity of 44.7Mt/yr.
Shiva Cement plans US$45m upgrade
10 July 2013India: Shiva Cement is planning to upgrade its cement production capacity to 1Mt/yr with an investment of US$45m. The cement producer currently has a capacity of 0.13Mt/yr at Rourkela in Odisha. The company has an agreement with ACC, who holds a 13% stake in Shiva Cement, to sell its entire production.
"Since we have the requisite land at our existing facility and all the approvals are in place, we expect the project to be completed by the first half 2015," said RP Gupta, chairman and managing director of Shiva Cement. In a second phase the company plans to further increase its capacity to 2Mt/yr.
Najran Cement closes production line for maintenance
10 July 2013Saudi Arabia: Saudi cement producer Najran Cement has announced that it has shut down production line one for scheduled maintenance, which will take 25 days to complete. Najran Cement said that the shutdown will cost US$1.3m.
The company recently announced it was ready for trial operations at its third production line. The new production line will have a capacity of 6500t/day.
RAK Cement Company launches US$18m expansion
09 July 2013UAE: The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Cement Company has launched a US$18m expansion of its second kiln at its cement plant in Khor Khwair in Ras Al Khaimah. Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, chairman of the board of the RAK Cement Company launched the new expansion. Also in attendance was Yasser bin Ahmed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, director-general of the Union Cement Company, along with a number of senior officials.
Turkmenistan: Cement imports to Turkmenistan will have to pay a 100% customs duty starting on 1 August 2013, according to the Turkmenistan.ru news portal. The resolution was signed by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in order to support domestic production and to streamline the import of cement. A minimum customs import duty of US$200/t will be imposed.