Displaying items by tag: GCW475
Holcim US announces new blended cements branding
28 September 2020US: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Holcim US has rebranded its blended cement and supplementary cementitious materials range as Envirocore. Envirocore products include OneCem Portland limestone cement, MaxCem blended cement and NewCem slag cement.
The company noted that the partial substitution of cement with supplementary cementitious materials “not only results in more durable, high-performance concrete, but also lowers energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. CO2 emissions are reduced by approximately 800,000kg/t of clinker replaced.” It also called on consumers to “adopt solutions that lower carbon emissions.”
Thai university conducts cradle-to-grave analysis of Myanmar’s cement
28 September 2020Thailand: King Monkut's University of Technology Thonburi has conducted a cradle-to-grave analysis of the environmental impacts of 1t of cement from neighbouring Myanmar. The study concluded that the cement’s production had major environmental impacts in terms of “climate change, photochemical oxidant formation, fine particular matter formation, terrestrial acidification, fossil resource scarcity, damage to ecosystems and damage to human health. Resultantly, researchers concluded that “some improvement measures should be considered, which include upgrading the cement manufacturing process, increasing the share of clinker substitutes, utilising alternative fuels, optimising energy efficiency and implementing energy recovery technologies."
Lucky Cement launches vocational scholarships
28 September 2020Pakistan: Lucky Cement has partnered with Hunar Foundation to launch scholarships for dedicated vocational training programmes for eligible young people in Lakki Marwat District, Khyber Pakthunkhwa Province. The Daily Messenger has reported that the company said that the scheme aims to “empower the youth of Pakistan through skill development.”
Competition Commission of Pakistan conducts search of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association headquarters
25 September 2020Pakistan: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has conducted a search of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) headquarters in Lahore, Punjab Province as part of it investigation into alleged anticompetitiveness by cement producers. The Daily Frontier Star has reported that the aim of the search was “to gather evidence of possible communication, arrangement, agreement or understanding between cement producers pertaining to the alleged violation of the provisions of the Competition Act.” The CCP launched the investigation in May 2020 following a request from the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP).
Dalmia Cement signs Near-Zero pledge
25 September 2020India: Dalmia Bharat subsidiary Dalmia Cement has joined five leading companies of other sectors in signing the Near-Zero pledge, an industry charter targeting “near-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050” at the virtual Climate Week NYC. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the pledge consists of a commitment to “undertake carbon sequestration efforts, if needed, and set reporting indicators and targets to enable tracking of corporate goals on the decarbonisation pathway.”
Dalmia Cement urged national governments to “positively enforce targets for efficiency, emissions reduction and circular economy to make carbon neutrality by 2050 a reality.”
Dalmia Cement launches Dalmia Masters
25 September 2020India: Dalmia Bharat subsidiary Dalmia Cement has announced the launch of Dalmia Masters, an online platform for builders using Dalmia products. The company says that the platform “will offer opportunities for skill advancement, best-in-class construction practice sharing and a wide range of rewards.”
Chief operating officer (COO) Ujjwal Batria said, “As a leading cement brand, our product’s validation and recommendation by the contractor and technocrat community plays a large role in our success. Reaching out to thousands of contractors and masons, Dalmia Masters will help redefine what construction professionals can expect from cement brands.”
Executive director and head of marketing Pramesh Arya added, “Dalmia Cement’s outreach to construction professionals has always been pioneering. Dalmia Masters is a robust performance-linked loyalty programme, which will also expand our Future Today promise. The programme respects and celebrates the contractor community’s skill and vision, and will further strengthen the relationship we have built with it.”
Metrocem Cement signs software supply contract with NURTech
25 September 2020Bangladesh: Metrocem Cement says that it has contracted with US-based software specialist NURTech to “develop a unique AOS and IOS-based integrated software for Metrocem Cement. This will ensure smooth operation and alleviate complications, which in turn will benefit employee as well as customers.” Managing director Khandakar Rifat said that he looked forward to the fruits of this expansion of Metrocem Cement’s existing relationship with the supplier.
Uzbek eight-month cement volumes increase as sales fall
25 September 2020Uzbekistan: Producers sold 15.0Mt of cement in the first eight months of 2020, up by 105% year-on-year from 7.33Mt over the corresponding period of 2019. Sales fell by 44% in value to US$67.6m from US$120m due to deflated demand, according to Trend News.
Uzpromstroymaterialy head Botir Khuzhabekov said, “In 2019 cement production amounted to 11.0Mt. By the end of 2020, it is planned to bring production to 20.0Mt of cement of grades 400, 500, and 600.”
India: A public hearing over Birla Corporation subsidiary Reliance Cement’s planned 3.9Mt/yr Mukutban cement plant in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra has raised objections against the company’s quarry plans. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the plant is due to source its limestone from a 7.6km2 quarry in Korpana, Chandrapur district. Critics say that the company has failed to complete a wildlife management plan, and that the site of the mine lies on a 120km wildlife corridor between the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring Telangana. Reliance Cement said that an environmental report had shown the presence of no scheduled species within 10km of the proposed site.
Maharashtra state wildlife board member and honorary wildlife warden Bandu Dhore said, “Although there is no forest area under the proposed mining site, it acts as a regular corridor as there is forest on either side within 1km. We are pursuing the matter with the forest department and would press it with higher officials to ensure that the precious corridor remains undisturbed. Protection of corridors is a must for conservation of wildlife and hence we are going to raise the demand of re-survey of the project site from the wildlife point of view.”
Steppe Cement’s first-half profit drops by 9% so far in 2020
24 September 2020Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement has recorded a consolidated profit after tax of US$4.1m in the first half of 2020, down by 24% year-on-year from US$3.1m in the first half of 2019. Sales volumes declined by 2% to 765,000t from 780,000t. The company says that it maintained its 2019 prices until the end of the first quarter of 2020, when reduced demand due to the coronavirus lockdown caused a fall. Production costs declined by 4% over the entire period.