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Displaying items by tag: India
India: UltraTech Cement has taken legal advice for its planned bid for Holcim's Indian business and says that it will volunteer to divest 15Mt/yr-worth of cement assets in order to accelerate the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approval process which would follow on from the acceptance of any offer. The Economic Times newspaper has reported that UltraTech Cement has filed five long form merger notifications for acquisitions of this type since 2013. These included its purchases of Binani Cement and Century Cement, and of Jaypee Group's Gujarati cement assets.
The Financial Express newspaper has reported that fellow contender Adani Group has offered 'more than' US$10bn for the assets, while JSW Group plans to offer US$7bn. BusinessLine Online News has reported that a fourth company, steel producer ArcelorMittal, has also held initial talks with Holcim over the assets.
In considering possible competition issues arising under any future deal, the CCI will factor in planned and upcoming cement capacity. In Gujarat, where Holcim India subsidiaries ACC and Ambuja Cements operate 6.8Mt/yr-worth of capacity, Adani Group plans to build a new 10Mt/yr cement plant at Lakhpat.
India: Visaka Industries has commissioned a new line at its Raebareli asbestos cement roofing sheets plant. Indiainfoline News Service has reported that the line has a capacity of 100,000t/yr.
Beumer acquires FAM Group
05 May 2022Germany: Beumer has announced its acquisition of conveying systems supplier FAM Group. The group says that the two companies complement each other ‘ideally.’ FAM Group employs 750 people in Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China and India, as well as representatives elsewhere. Beumer says that the company’s ‘leading technology’ for transporting and processing minerals fits well with its own portfolio.
India: Krishna Mohan Nendraganti has resigned as the chair and director of Sri Chakra Cement. He cited personal reasons for the departure.
India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Denmark-based FLSmidth to collaborate in the research and development of sustainable solutions for cement manufacturing. The agreement has been arranged under the ‘Green Strategic Partnership’ initiatives between Denmark and India that cover energy and climate change.
Under the MOU both companies will cooperate on a range of areas such as substituting conventional energy supplies with renewable sources and working towards CO2 emissions abatement. Both companies have committed to contributing research and development towards eventually building an industrial scale production plant where the new concepts can be further tested.
Mahendra Singhi, the managing director and chief executive officer of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) said, “In alignment with the ambitious net zero vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and given the strength and stature of our respective organisations, this association will provide futuristic solutions to the cement and concrete industry to emerge clean and green.” He added that India and Dalmia Cement in particular were keen to develop a roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0 with totally decarbonised cement plants and a ‘lighthouse’ cement plant.
India: The Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) India has released a report entitled ‘Blended Cement – Green, Durable & Sustainable’ to promote the advantages of different types of blended cement over Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The report was released by Anil Agrawal, Additional Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry, and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry at an online event hosted by the Indian branch of the Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA).
“Blended Cement is the top priority and will play a key role in decarbonising the infrastructure segment. I am happy to see that the global cement and concrete industry has taken the lead, and they have come up with a roadmap. Now the Indian cement sector is developing an India specific detailed roadmap for the cement and concrete industry to achieve the net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050 in a time-bound manner,” said Agrawal.
The report is a collation of the information about blended cement and its advantages. It highlights the performance improvement possible through this replacement, making blended cement an attractive means to achieve sustainable infrastructure development. It also showcases the benefits of different blended types of cement over OPC based on hydration, microstructure and permeability, rheology and workability, strength development, shrinkage (chemical, autogenous, and drying) and cracks, leaching, alkali-aggregate reactivity, sulphate attack, reinforcement corrosion, long-term durability of construction and usage in preparation of high strength concrete.
India: UltraTech Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$6.86bn in its 2022 financial year, up by 18% year-on-year from US$5.83bn. The Aditya Birla subsidiary's net profit was US$957m, up by 34% from US$713m. Its total expenses also increased, by 20% to US$5.61bn from US$4.69bn. The sharpest rise, of 45%, was in power and fuel expenses, to US$1.43bn from US$985m.
Holcim receives bids for Ambuja Cements
03 May 2022India: Adani Group and JSW Group have submitted their non-binding bids to Holcim for acquisition of its subsidiary Ambuja Cements. The Business Standard newspaper has reported that Aditya Birla subsidiary UltraTech is also preparing a bid. A deal with UltraTech Cement would delay closure due to the Competition Commission of India approval process it entails. Holcim previously indicated that it would like to conclude the deal early.
Adani Group would finance any acquisition with a combination of its own cash and that from Gulf-based sovereign funds, while JSW Group would engage private equity.
India: JK Lakshmi Cement has partnered with the Society for Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) to integrate calcined clay technology into its operations in order to commence production of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3). United News of India has reported that the producer says that this type of composite cement reduces the product's clinker factor by 50% and its carbon footprint by 40%.
JK Lakshmi Cement said "This partnership will be a game-changer for the cement industry, giving impetus to its efforts in mitigating emissions, combating climate change and bringing a holistic change in the surrounding communities to create sustainable livelihoods in large numbers."
India: Tamilnadu Cements plans to set up a new grinding plant in Alangulam, Tamil Nadu. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the unit will serve the nearby Arasu cement plant and double its cement capacity to 0.56Mt/yr from 0.28Mt/yr. It will cost US$5.22m and produce the company's Valimai cement.
Tamilnadu Cements has sold 59,000t of Valimai cement to date.