Displaying items by tag: Licence

Sweden: A court has granted Heidelberg Materials a 30-year licence to continue limestone mining at its Slite quarry on the island of Gotland, securing the future of the plant that produces 75% of Sweden’s cement. The court ruling replaces a 2022 four-year concession and follows a 2021 rejection of a long-term extension that had threatened cement rationing and job losses, according to Reuters.

Heidelberg Materials deputy CEO Karin Comstedt Webb said “The permit ensures a robust supply of cement to Sweden's construction sector for many years.”

Georgia: The government has raised the mineral extraction limit for Kartuli Cement, amending the company’s mining license under a decree issued on 28 February 2025. The revised limit now allows for the extraction of 718,415m³ of sand and gravel from the Lezhbadin mineral deposit in Khanji-Gazlo, Marneuli Municipality, until the license expires on 24 October 2025. In return for the additional 287,630m³ of extraction, Kartuli Cement paid US$151,000.

Kartuli Cement formerly operated as HeidelbergCement Georgia, and rebranded as 'Hunnewell Cement' in August 2024 following its acquisition by the Georgian Co-Investment Fund and Hunnewell Partners.

Kenya: The government has warned cement producers about buying materials from unlicensed sources. Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho has berated cement producers for purchasing minerals from unauthorised sellers, arguing that this practice enables the operations of illegal miners who exploit the country’s natural resources.

During a meeting with cement producers and representatives from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Kenya Chamber of Mines, Joho said "We need your support in fighting against illegal mining operations, but sadly some of you provide markets for minerals extracted illegally by faceless entities that are not paying taxes, royalties and are giving nothing to communities for those minerals. This must stop.”

In the past three years, the government has closed 3000 illicit mines that were operating without licenses. The Cabinet Secretary noted that gypsum was a heavily exploited material by the illegal miners, who use it as an ingredient in cement.

Joho added “You have been buying and using gypsum in cement manufacturing, yet there is no record of anyone licensed to mine gypsum in Kenya. There are no records on production, payment of taxes and royalties or community programs undertaken by any gypsum dealer because they are doing it illegally.”

US/France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has extended its licensing agreement with Hoffmann Green USA, signed in July 2024, to cover 25 states in the eastern United States. This has triggered an additional entry fee of €8m, following the €2m already received. The agreement grants industrial and technological transfer rights and exclusivity in the expanded territory. It includes fixed and variable royalties based on sales of Hoffmann Green cements. Hoffmann Green USA may also sub-license units in these territories, with discussions currently underway with potential sub-licensees.

China/Denmark: Denmark-based FLSmidth Cement has signed a licensing agreement with Sinoma International Intelligent Technology (IIT) covering the production and sale of QCX lab equipment in China. Cyril Leung, Country Head China – FLSmdith, said “The deal effectively provides us a new sales channel and represents our continued commitment to enhancing our services in the world’s largest cement market.”

All QCX equipment that FLSmidth Cement supplies outside of China will continue to be made in Brno, Czech Republic. Development and delivery of QCX software will remain in Denmark. FLSmidth noted that the agreement has no impact on the ongoing divestment of FLSmidth Cement.
FLSmidth Cement’s QCX lab equipment supports sampling, preparation and analysis. Products in the range include the QCX/RoboLab laboratory automation system, analysers, sample preparation products, quality control systems and laboratory software.

Ghana: The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Hammond, has directed cement manufacturers to secure licences or cease operations immediately, in compliance with the new Ghana Standards Authority's (GSA) Manufacture of Cement Regulation, 2023 (LI 2480). This regulation mandates re-registration and licensing of existing operations and bars unlicensed new plants. It came into law in 2024 and seeks to address consumer concerns over rising cement prices and promote quality assurance.

Director-General of the GSA, Alex Dodoo, stated that all current manufacturers are operating illegally without a licence. Dodoo said that none of the cement producers in the country had applied for a licence to operate in accordance with the law.

India: JK Cement plans to invest US$584m in its construction of a new cement plant in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. IM News has reported that the producer has already secured environmental clearance for the upcoming plant.

US: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has signed a licensing agreement with Hoffmann Green USA. The company will receive a first entry fee of €2m and annual royalties based on sales generated by the commercialisation of Hoffmann cements. The contract also gives the option of sub-licensing Hoffmann units in the US. It also includes the option, until 2025, to extend the license nationwide by 2025 for €20m.

Co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "The signing of this key licensing agreement in the US is the concrete result of the pre-agreement announced at the end of 2023. We are delighted to join forces with two partners who share our vision of the construction sector and have both significant expertise and in-depth knowledge of the local ecosystem."

US: Solidia Technologies has entered a technology licensing agreement with CalPortland. The deal grants CalPortland limited rights to use Solidia’s patents, which can reportedly reduce the carbon footprint of cement and concrete by up to 50%. The limited licenses will allow CalPortland to use the Solidia technology to develop low carbon solutions. CalPortland also purchased certain laboratory and plant assets from Solidia.

CEO of Solidia Technologies, Russell Hill, said "CalPortland's unwavering commitment to decarbonisation of the cement and concrete industries makes it a great partner for continuing the vast development and research advanced by Solidia more than a decade ago."

India: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has declined to stay insolvency proceedings against Jaiprakash Associates, following a challenge by its board. The board has been suspended since the NCLAT admitted an insolvency plea against the company on 3 June 2024. Press Trust of India News has reported that ICICI Bank first initiated proceedings over outstanding debts in September 2018.

The board of Jaiprakash Associates submitted that it will remain ‘asset-rich,’ even after it sells cement plants to repay loans. It attributed its present ‘liquidity crunch’ to delayed government approvals, ‘prolonged’ litigation and policy changes. The NCLAT stated that it must admit insolvency pleas in cases of defaulted debt repayment, saying that a judicial resolution will prevent further depletion of Jaiprakash Associates’ assets.