Displaying items by tag: Plant
Kenya: Kitengela-based quarry operator Karsan Ramji & Sons is stepping up its investments in the cement business with the planned construction of a cement plant in Nakuru, the second such project in the past 12 months.
Karsan Ramji & Sons has sought regulatory approval to set up a 700t/day (224,000t/yr) cement plant in Engashura, some 7km from Nakuru. The company recently completed the construction of a similar-sized cement plant in Athi River and in June 2015 began selling cement under the brand name Ndovu.
"If we secure regulatory approvals in time, construction will begin in December 2015 and the plant will begin operating by November 2016," said Kishor Varsani, Karsan Ramji & Sons' managing director. The plant will use imported clinker while pozzolana and gypsum will be sourced locally from its quarries.
Also in Kenya, Nigeria's Dangote Cement plans to build a US$395m cement plant in Kitui, while India's Sanghi Group plans to construct a US$119m cement plant in West Pokot. Kenya's 2014 cement production grew by 16.4% year-on-year to 5.88Mt, up from 5.05Mt in 2013 as a result of new players entering the industry. Cement production in the country has consistently outpaced consumption, which stood at 4.26Mt and 5.19Mt in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
"Everybody knows that there is currently an oversupply of cement in the Kenyan market," said Varsani. "However, our decision to diversify our business into this sector is based on the belief that demand for cement will soon outpace supply. This is in line with the expected growth of the economy and construction industry."
Karsan Ramji & Sons' maiden Athi River plant is located about 500m from the plants of its two rivals, Mombasa Cement and Bamburi Cement. Other competitors in the neighbourhood include ARM Cement and East Africa Portland Cement. The plant, which recently started operations was initially to be built in Kitengela, but residents opposed the project citing health and environmental concerns, forcing the investor to relocate the venture to Athi River.
JSW Cement orders eight slag grinding units from KHD
06 August 2015India: JSW Cement has ordered eight 90t/hr roller press slag grinding units from KHD Humboldt Wedag India Private Ltd (India) and KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH (Germany) for its plants in India.
Dangote opens Masaiti, Zambia cement plant
05 August 2015Zambia: Nigeria's Dangote Cement opened its US$400m cement plant in Masaiti, Zambia on 4 August 2015, signalling its increasingly international ambitions as it plans new investments across Africa. The plant is expected to produce 1.5Mt/yr of cement per year once it is fully operational, creating at least 1000 direct jobs and 6000 indirectly.
"We hope to commission four other cement plants in Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon and Tanzania before the end of 2015," said Aiko Dangote, Dangote Group president. "We have decided to invest in 16 countries across the continent because we believe that Africa's future is linked to cement."
Francis Flower acquires Scunthorpe ground granulated blast furnace slag plant from Hanson
04 August 2015UK: Mineral resources company Francis Flower has announced the acquisition of the Scunthorpe ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) plant from Hanson Cement.
The business is capable of producing more than 500,000t/yr of GGBS and supplies customers in the Midlands and north of England. GGBS complements Francis Flower's existing range of high quality powdered minerals, which originate as by-products from various industries. This reduces the need for mineral extraction and landfill, delivering sustainable environmental solutions for its customers. The acquisition reflects both Francis Flower's commitment to developing its range of products and services in this sector and the credibility it has for making the most of mineral resources.
"We are absolutely delighted and very excited to announce this new acquisition. GGBS is an excellent fit to our existing product range and will help further our longstanding relationships in this sector," said Adrian Willmott, Chairman and CEO of Francis Flower. "We have a proven track record of making the most of mineral resources, reducing the need for mineral extraction as well as landfill and delivering sustainable solutions for our customers. We are very much looking forward to working with the team in Scunthorpe and developing the opportunities in the GGBS market as the UK construction sector continues to grow."
Ohorongo Cement ups production
31 July 2015Namibia: Ohorongo Cement managing director Hans-Wilhelm Schütte said that the company has produced about 2.4Mt of cement for both local and foreign consumption in past five years, according to APANEWS. Cement production has grown since it first began at the site in December 2010.
Dangote plans new cement plant in Chongwe
31 July 2015Zambia: Dangote Group has announced plans to build a new cement plant in Chongwe, Lusaka, according to All Africa. Meanwhile, its cement plant in Masaiti is due to be officially commissioned on 4 August 2015.
Uganda: Tororo Cement Limited has invested US$25 - 30m towards the expansion of its cement plant, taking its capacity from the current 1.8Mt/yr to 3Mt/yr to meet regional demand.
Brij Mohan Gragrani, Tororo Cement executive director, said that the company would construct a new grinding mill, cement storage silos, rotary packers, clinker feeding system and clinker sheds. "The expansion is proposed in view of market demand in Uganda and neighbouring countries," said Mohan Gragrani.
Mozambique: Ambrian has announced that its Beira cement plant in Mozambique was completed this week, but that delays and cost overruns mean that the plant will cost an extra US$3m. The delays, which were due to issues with contractors, the availability of qualified staff and regulatory response times, increased the plant cost from US$42.5m to US$45.5m. Testing of the electricity substation will now start at the site and a timetable will be agreed to connect the substation to the main grid, which is expected to happen in early August 2015.
India: Ultratech Cement has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation to set up a US$312m, 3Mt/yr capacity cement plant in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The plant will be set up on around 10.1km2 of land, according to the Indian Cement Review.
India: The government has issued a show-cause notice to Ambuja Cement for not adhering to the condition of converting at least 50% of the clinker it produces into cement in Himachal Pradesh at cement plant in Darlaghat, according to The Tribune, Himachal Pradesh.
Principal secretary of industry RD Dhiman has reportedly been asked to submit an 'Action Taken' report about the total loss of revenue on account of the reduced royalties and various taxes to the government.
"It has come to the notice of the government that Ambuja Cement has been converting only 17% of its clinker into cement at its plant at Darlaghat, which has resulted into the loss of revenue to the government," said industry minister Mukesh Agnihotri. He added that the department had been asked to compile a report of the total loss to it on this account.
Ambuja Cement has been asked to explain why it has violated the agreement that it entered into with the government. If the reply given by the company is found to be unsatisfactory, the permit to operate the plant could be withdrawn. As per the agreement signed between the government and Ambuja Cement for the plant, at least 50% of the clinker has to be converted into cement within the state.