Displaying items by tag: Lafarge
Pakistan dumping investigation moves to International Trade Administration Commission
26 August 2014South Africa: The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) is investigating claims by cement producers that cement from Pakistan is being dumped in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), of which Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland are also members.
Afrisam, Lafarge, NPC Cimpor and PPC allege that bagged cement from Pakistan has been dumped at a 48% lower price than is the normal value in Pakistan. In 2013 imports from Pakistan accounted for just under 99% of all cement imports into SACU. According to statistics released by XA International Trade Advisors, annual imports from Pakistan alone were 1.1Mt in 2013.
Managing Director for PPC's cement activities, Richard Tomes, claimed that the dumping by Pakistan led to a decline in sales volumes, profit, output and the market share of producers in the region. He claimed that the effect of dumping included negative effects on cash flow and reduced levels of staffing in SACU cement producers, with the number of staff employed in the SACU cement industry decreasing by 15% between 2010 and 2013.
Lafarge Exshaw completes emissions improvement work
26 August 2014Canada: Lafarge has completed a US$20m upgrade at its Exshaw cement plant in Alberta, which will reduce the level of emissions generated by its operations. The upgrade is one part of an ongoing expansion at the plant that will ultimately see Lafarge nearly double the plant's output from 1.2Mt/yr to 2.2Mt/yr.The expansion was originally planned in 2008, but was delayed because of the economic downturn.
Now, with Alberta 'booming again,' the timing is right, according to Bob Cooper, Lafarge vice-president for Western Canada Cement. The project will be completed by the summer of 2015.
"We're quite proud of this because we're helping to build Alberta. "We're the only company in Alberta right now, from a cement standpoint, increasing our output," he said. "The market is quite strong. We see a lot of growth going forward in Alberta, the Prairies and even British Columbia."
The environmental benefits of the expansion and side-projects will be 60% lower sulphur dioxide emissions and 40% lower nitrogen oxide emissions.In addition, new dust mitigation and noise abatement equipment has been installed. Lafarge has also installed a new water recycling system, which means that the plant will no longer discharge used water into the Bow River.
Layoffs possible at Lafarge Zambia
19 August 2014Zambia: Lafarge Zambia is considering laying off some 30% of its workforce of 670 employees, according to a memo circulated by a group of unionised workers. The company, which owns cement plants in Ndola and Lusaka, has allegedly not yet paid its unionised workers a promised salary increase, according to local reports. Instead of increasing these wages, Lafarge Zambia's CEO Emmanuel Rigaux announced the layoffs.
"We are appealing to the government to intervene on our behalf so that we are paid our salary increment and also to find out why they are pruning staff," said employees of Lafarge Zambia. The workers also allege mistreatment by management and say that Lafarge sold most of its shares to Holcim because it is 'scared' of competing with Dangote.
"The CEO takes advantage of the greediness and selfishness of our own Zambian managers to exploit us," said the employees. "Most Zambian managers are destroying their fellow citizens by protecting the greediness of these foreign investors. The management make billions but they treat the employees poorly."
According to a sales report from Lafarge dated 12 August 2014, Rigaux said, "The recent trend in our costs though is not favourable, partly as a result of negative currency impact. We must take action to contain our costs and ensure the sustainability of our business, including the review of our headcount. As we are entering the active phase of our capacity expansion projects both in Ndola and Chilanga and new competition is emerging, we must be fully mobilised to better serve our customers and maintain our undisputed leadership, including our cost leadership."
Nigeria set to end cement imports in 2017
18 August 2014Nigeria: With a national production capacity at over 28Mt/yr, which far outstrips national demand of 20Mt/yr, Nigeria looks set to effectively end cement imports by 2017, according to UniCem's managing director, Olivier Lenoir. This is coming on the back of on-going strong national production capacity expansion by virtually all of the major cement producers operating in the country. By 2016, Dangote Cement will have increased its production to 50Mt/yr, Lafarge 15Mt/yr and UniCem to 5Mt/yr.
Zambia: Lafarge Zambia's CEO, Emmanuel Rigaux, said that its profit went up by 66% during the first six months of 2014, largely driven by favourable volumes, the launch of cost-control measures, improved industrial performance and positive foreign exchange gains.
"Our priority to improve our level of customer service through innovative new products, a re-focused sales and customer service team and state-of-the-art logistical solutions, have started to show results," said Rigaux. "Together with improvements in operational and industrial performance at our Ndola and Chilanga plants, we have managed to attain encouraging first half results despite a challenging environment in Zambia and key export markets."
Cement production grew by 13% to 600,000t, despite domestic and export markets facing challenges with stiffening competition, cost inflation and a number of changes in the regulatory environment. Lafarge Zambia expects continued efforts on the customer and cost-control sides to enable the firm to grow profitably and meet the needs of domestic and export customers, with a strong focus on infrastructure and mining projects in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rigaux said that Lafarge Zambia's current capacity expansion projects in Ndola and Chilanga would also enable the company to remain the preferred supplier of construction solutions in Zambia and the DRC. He added that cement demand is expected to remain strong for the rest of 2014, saying that innovative products, services and solutions would be introduced as required to satisfy the growing demand in the construction sector.
UK/Singapore: The private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is in discussion with Singapore's Government Investment Corporation (GIC) about a combined bid for assets being sold by Holcim and Lafarge as they prepare to merge, according to Sky News. CVC is also understood to be talking to other state investment funds about the proposed deal.
At least two other private equity groups have been formed to bid for the divestments that Holcim and Lafarge are preparing to sell. Blackstone has teamed up with Cinven and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. BC Partners and Advent International are also preparing a joint bid. Initial offers are understood to be due in September 2014.
Bamburi’s profit down by 28% in first half of 2014
08 August 2014Kenya: The profit of Lafarge-controlled Bamburi Cement slumped by 28% to US$26.2m in the first half of 2014, as the company outlined plans to profit from Kenya's ambitious infrastructure spending plans. It said that its profit took a hit due to the higher cost of both power and imported clinker. However, its revenue increased to US$197m from US$180m in the first half of 2013.
Bamburi is the biggest cement maker in east Africa's largest economy, where a construction boom driven by infrastructure projects and real estate has helped boost demand for cement. "We are optimistic that the business environment will progressively improve in the second half of the year," said the firm.
In June 2014 the Kenyan government raised US$2bn through a debut Eurobond and said most of the proceeds would be used to finance infrastructure projects. Bamburi said it expects Kenya's planned infrastructure projects, including roads, railways and a new Indian Ocean port in Lamu, to improve sales.
Lafarge plant on environment watch-list
07 August 2014Slovenia: The Lafarge Trbovlje cement plant is among several industrial sites and facilities in Slovenia that have been added to the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice, an interactive online mapping platform detailing environmental conflicts around the world. Its originators seek to highlight incidences of water and land competition as well as air, water and other pollution.
"The Atlas illustrates how ecological conflicts are increasing around the world, driven by material demands fed primarily by the rich and middle class subsections of the global population," said project coordinator Joan Martinez-Alier of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Lafarge and Holcim announce Brazilian divestment details
05 August 2014Brazil: Lafarge and Holcim have announced further details on their proposal for comprehensive divestments in Brazil as part of their planned mega-merger to create LafargeHolcim.
As announced on 7 July 2014, and to anticipate potential competition authorities' requirements, the joint Divestment Committee has agreed to propose to Brazilian competition authority CADE a package of high-quality assets from both Holcim and Lafarge. This will include three integrated cement plants and two grinding stations that share a combined capacity of 3.6Mt/yr. Also included is one ready-mix concrete plant in the south east of the country.
These proposed divestments have been presented to CADE in the context of pre-filing negotiations and will now be subject to review and further discussion until a final decision is reached with the authority.
The divestment process will be carried out in the framework of the relevant social processes and on-going dialogue with the employee representatives' bodies and will be conducted in parallel to discussions with the competition authorities and potential buyers. The divestment process will be completed subject to the closing of the merger between Holcim and Lafarge.
A Lafarge and Holcim joint statement said that Brazil is an important market for the future LafargeHolcim Group and that the company will remain committed to the country, serving customers from a network in cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete.
Russia: Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has made a decision to extend the consideration period for Holcim's application for the right to direct the following businesses: OAO Lafarge Cement (Moscow), FIANT LLC (Moscow), Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete LLC (Republic of Karelia), Drilling and Blasting Company LLC (Republic of Karelia), Bolshoy Massiv Quarry LLC (Republic of Karelia) and Tekhnobud Klesovsky Quarry of Non-Metallic Minerals LLC (Ukraine). The right to direct the businesses would stem from Holcim's acquisition of 66% of the shares in Lafarge.
Lafarge is licensed for the production, storage and application of industrial explosive materials, being engaged in the activities provided for by Article 6 of the Federal Law on Procedures for Foreign Investments in Business Entities of Strategic Importance for the National Defense and State Security. Therefore, Lafarge qualifies as a business entity of strategic importance for the national defence and state security. Therefore, the deal applied for requires prior approval as provided for by Russia's investment law.