Displaying items by tag: GCW627
China: Taiwan Cement (TCC) commissioned a 107MWh energy storage project at its Yingde plant in Guangdong province in August 2023. Subsidiary NHOA Energy worked on the project that linked the battery storage capacity to a 42MW waste heat recovery (WHR) system and a 8MWp solar photovoltaic unit. It uses lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by Ningde Times.
The company’s say that the project is one of the largest industrial microgrids in the world. It is intended to provide energy flexibility to the cement plant by using NHOA Energy’s proprietary energy management system to manage peaks in energy demand and acting as a backup for critical equipment to avoid damage caused by sudden blackouts.
The NHOA Energy storage project is expected to store about 46000MWh/yr of electricity and save just under US$3m/yr in electricity costs. The system will also support the Guangdong Provincial Government’s energy storage development policy and be eligible to associated subsidies of over US$350,000/yr.
Giuseppe Artizzu, the chief executive officer of NHOA Energy, said “NHOA Energy’s proprietary energy management system will optimise the generation and consumption profile of the industrial microgrid, while also supporting the regional grid towards its 100% green energy objective, taking the energy transition in the area one step forward in total accordance with NHOA Group’s and TCC’s shared mission of fostering a positive change for the future of our planet.”
Hoffmann Green Cement signs distribution deal with Point.P
26 September 2023France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies (HGCT) has signed a partnership deal with Point.P. Under the terms of the agreement, HGCT’s clinker-free cement products will be distributed to Point.P’s ready-mixed concrete (RMC) and batching plants. Point.P is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions linked to the use of cement it uses in ready-mix concrete, concrete blocks and precast elements, by 35% by 2030.
Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann, co-founders of HGCT, said "We're delighted with this partnership with a major player like Point P. This is a major step forward for the marketing of our clinker-free low-carbon cements.”
France-based Saint-Gobain Building Distribution France, a subsidiary of the Saint-Gobain, is a distributor of building materials. Its main brands include Point.P, Cedeo, Asturienne, PUM, SFIC, La Plateforme du Bâtiment, Dispano, Panofrance, Clim+ and CDL Elec. It has a network of over 2000 sales outlets throughout France.
Bangladesh/India: The completion of an upgrade project to Chhatak Cement’s plant has been thrown into doubt due to uncertainty about securing limestone from India. The plant still needs to build a new 17km ropeway conveyor and this has been delayed due to failure to obtain permission on the Indian side of the border, according to the Daily Star newspaper. It is also facing problems procuring limestone in India due to on-going legal proceedings on environmental grounds between exporters in Meghalaya and the government. The Supreme Court of India granted permission for exports in 2022 but the case is still pending. In addition, plans to install a gas line from Sylhet to the plant has not started yet either.
The state-owned cement producer is run by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). It originally announced in 2016 that it was spending over US$100m to build a new 1500t/day dry production line at the plant to replace an old wet production line. Although the old line originally had a production capacity of 233,000t/yr, it had fallen to around half of this. However, despite the construction of new silos and other equipment at the site, the unit has not been operational since early 2020. The new line was originally planned to start operation in 2020 but this was delayed until 2023. The BCIC has now proposed that completion of the project be extended to mid-2025.
Togolese government denies cement price rise
26 September 2023Togo: The Ministry of Commerce has denied that it has authorised a change in the price of cement. In a press release it confirmed that the ex-factory prices it set in late October 2021 remained in force, according to 24heureinfo. It reminded cement traders of this and provided a 24-hour telephone number for consumers to report any abnormal trading practices.
The ministry was responding to reports on social media channels about an increase to the price of cement. CimTogo said recently that it had adjusted its price structure in mid-September 2023 but not breached the price limits set by the government.
PPC completes solar tender in ‘challenging’ Zimbabwe market
25 September 2023Zimbabwe: South Africa-based PPC says that it has completed a solar plant tendering process for its Colleen Bawn and Bulaweyo plants. Chief executive officer Roland van Wijnen said that a 30MW captive plant has been approved by the board, generation licenses have been approved and that the project site has been cleared ahead of construction.
Van Wijnen added that PPC continues to see Zimbabwe as a ‘strong market for the group’ despite some economic challenges, explaining “We took a relatively long operational stop to ensure our operations in the country are future-proof and improved from an environmental standpoint. The plant is now performing well from both an output and cost-per-tonne perspective. We knew our earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) would be reduced due to this operational stoppage. We have since stepped up production and reclaimed market share and we anticipate EBITDA to meet or exceed full year 2022 levels in full year 2024.”
CEMENCO launches low-cost Superplast 22.5X product in Liberia
25 September 2023Liberia: Liberia Cement Corporation (CEMENCO) has introduced Superplast 22.5X, a new product that is specifically designed for use in plastering and laying blocks and tiles. Speaking at the launch on 25 September 2023, William Gaignard, CEMENCO’s General Manager, emphasised the historic importance of this product, highlighting its overall affordability, making it accessible for all Liberians to build their homes at a lower cost. Expressing his desire to witness a shift from mud houses to sustainable and economical homes made using concrete, Gaignard said that 50kg bags of Superplast 22.5X would cost 19% less than the average price of cement in Liberia.
"Today marks a significant moment in our journey here at CEMENCO,” said Gaignard. “When we do business, we have to assess our position in the market. Are we the leaders? If not, we must find solutions to become leaders. If we are the leaders, we must find solutions to maintain our position. This requires innovation, understanding the challenges faced by citizens and working towards solutions."
Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, who was present at the launch, praised CEMENCO for its forward-thinking approach in ensuring affordable cement for non-load-bearing applications in the local market. However, she urged the company to provide clear guidance to the public on the proper usage of the cement to avoid misuse, particularly in the production of load-bearing structures, for which it should not be used.
President launches vertical roller mill at Tororo Cement
25 September 2023Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially commissioned a new vertical roller mill at Tororo Cement’s plant in Tororo. The German-built mill cost US$25m and can produce 150t/hr of cement. The operator claims it to be the ‘most sophisticated’ in East and Central Africa. It is in the process of installing an additional 300t/hr mill, to bring its overall grinding capacity to 5Mt/yr. It is also planning the construction of a 5000t/yr integrated plant in Moroto, to eliminate the company’s need for imported clinker, which it claims will be launched within the next five years.
Speaking at the event, Museveni congratulated Tororo Cement’s chair Hasmukh Kanji Patel for the company’s ‘enormous contribution to Uganda’ and called for Ugandans to support foreign-owned companies, as they support national development, pay local taxes and contribute to gross domestic product. He said "I'm very glad that Mr Patel came here, that we privatised a government factory and now he has expanded it. This is why we had to go against people like Idi Amin who were ignorant. Ugandans should stop saying ‘Indian factory.’ This this is not an ‘Indian factory,’ it is a Ugandan factory regardless of who has built it.”
Producers warn against speed of transition to concrete roads in Nigeria
25 September 2023Nigeria: The Cement Producers Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has warned that the federal government’s plan to introduce concrete roads will nearly double the price of cement. It also called on the administration to ‘permanently address’ perennially high cement prices in the country by encouraging greater participation in the sector.
CPAN, in a statement jointly signed by its National Chair, Prince David Iweta and National Secretary Chief Reagan Ufomba, commended the government’s stance on converting the country to concrete-based roads, but suggested greater emphasis on road designs that allow both concrete and asphalt pavement to run concurrently and provide ample time for a smooth transition that allows contractors and producers time to adjust.
The statement read “While we commend the Honourable Minister’s position on concrete-made roads, we warn of the dire consequences if the supply end is not properly addressed. In fact, it would amount to dereliction of duty not to intervene. And the time is now. To do otherwise is to continue in a worsening pipe dream that prices would suddenly drop for this essential input that will continue to drain the purse of Nigerians, render them homeless, encourage chaos between demand and supply, and worsen the infrastructure deficit it sets out to cure, and lead to an unprecedented price hike.”
The India Cements to commission upgraded grinding unit at Sankar Nagar cement plant imminently
22 September 2023India: The India Cements expects to commission the upgraded grinding unit at its Sankar Nagar cement plant in Tamil Nadu later in September 2023. Hindu BusinessLine News has reported that the producer is undertaking the upgrade in order to increase efficiency and lower the plant’s operating costs. The producer has hired US-based Boston Consulting Group to ascertain other possible improvements to three of its plants in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At its Chilamkur cement plant in Andhra Pradesh, it is installing a waste heat recovery (WHR) system, scheduled for delivery in early 2024. FLSmidth and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions are both reportedly conducting ‘detailed studies’ for possible future projects for The India Cements.
Cemex seeks to refinance US$3bn bank debt
22 September 2023Mexico: Cemex says that it has entered negotiations with banks with a view to refinancing its US$3bn credit line. Bloomberg has reported that it previously financed the line in late 2021.
Cemex’s chief financial officer Maher Al-Haffar said that an anticipated 100% extension ‘will probably transform our maturity structure quite nicely.’