Displaying items by tag: Shutdown

Russia: Italy-based Buzzi Unicem subsidiary SKL Cement has supplied 400t of cement to the site of an upcoming coronavirus hospital in Omsk, Omsk Oblast. SLK Cement CEO Andrei Immoreev said, “In a difficult time for the whole world, our company continues to work to provide cement for construction sites of regional and federal facilities,” according to AMF News.

On 16 April 2020 the government launched a raft of measures, including subsidies for construction companies to keep jobs open and paid, to help the sector to recover after the crisis. and Major infrastructure projects in all regions will continue.

Thailand: Siam City Cement has closed the production lines at its Plant 1 integrated cement plant in Saraburi province due to a lack of demand resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement the company said that, “The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is seriously affecting the overall economic system and has already caused the global business and industrial sectors. The impact on us has been the drastic decline in demand both from domestic and regional markets.” It added that the closure was not expected to have an adverse impact on its operations. It is offering a ‘Mutual Separation Plan’ to affected workers in accordance with and beyond local labour regulations.

Normal production will continue at its Plant 2 and Plant 3 sites. In its 2019 annual report the cement producer said that it operated three cement plants in Kang Koi District, Saraburi Province with a total of six kilns and a combined clinker capacity of 13Mt/yr. However, only five kilns were in operation at this time with a combined production of 12Mt/yr.

This news story has been updated following clarification from Insee Cement.

Germany: Gebr. Pfeiffer has launched a range of webinars and individual analysis and advice sessions in order to support cement producers preparing for start-up after the global coronavirus crisis. The services include webinars about vertical roller mill grinding and the Gebr. Pfeiffer MVR roller mill range and ready2grind modular system, as well as individual remote inspections. Gebr. Pfeiffer is also offering individual start-up support sessions.

US: Lehigh Cement has announced plans to suspend operations at its 0.5Mt/yr Glens Falls, New York, plant and associated Moreau quarry by 1 May 2020 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The move will see its local staff of 90 reduced to 36 for the duration of the shutdown. Times Union newspaper has reported that Lehigh Cement will cover the 54 dismissed employees’ health insurance payments and ‘provide assistance in applying for unemployment and other layoff-related benefits.’ Lehigh Cement Glens Falls plant manager David Dreyer said, “We look forward to the day when our nation's health is no longer at such risk and our customers' demand for cement products returns, so we can welcome our employees back and resume full operation.”

India: Gujarat Sidhee Cement resumed production at its 1.2Mt/yr Sidheegram plant in Gujarat on 15 April 2020. The company said that in reopening the plant it would ‘comply with directives issued by central, state and local government,’ according to Accord Fintech News.

Japan: Equipment supplier UBE Japan instigated working-from-home for all employees as of 13 April 2020. Production is due to continue as normal, along with the supply of UBE products to Japanese cement producers. For necessary on-site workers, the company says that it has implemented flextime and staggered work schedules. The arrangement is currently scheduled to end on 10 May 2020.

China: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published data showing 94% domestic cement production capacity utilisation in the two-week period ending 10 April 2020, marking an end to coronavirus shutdowns in all provinces. Excavator sales in March 2020 numbered 49,400, up by 12% year-on-year from 44,300 in March 2019. Construction materials analyst Xu Xianchun said, "Demand in the construction industry has basically recovered to 2019's level, driven by new and resumed projects." Xinhua News Agency has reported that cement prices have also climbed on a month-by-month basis.

Colombia: Mexico-based Cemex has announced the resumption of operations at its 2.8Mt/yr Caracolito plant in Ibagué, Tolima Department on 13 April 2020. Noticias Financieras News has reported that Cemex Colombia will resume the supply of its products to ‘infrastructure and public works that cannot be suspended, as well as for emergency care projects and road projects.

Cemex will have to wait for the Colombian government to lift its coronavirus lockdown to restart supplies to customers.

Mexico: The National Cement Chamber (CANACEM) has suspended the activity of all member producers with cement plants in the country following the government’s national industrial shutdown in response to coronavirus. The suspension will last until 30 April 2020, during which time employees will draw their full salaries. CANACEM President Jaime Rocha Font said, "It is necessary to carry out technical, operational and administrative actions in each of the plants whose activity will be suspended in order to be able to completely stop operations in a safe and technically orderly manner.” Companies have until 10 April 2020 to complete the shutdown.

Cement dispatches to public and private works, as well as to the country’s 62,000 cement retailers, will proceed until 3 April 2020.

Spain: Coronavirus has forced the suspension of operations at all Cementos Molins facilities, in accordance with a royal decree. Europa Press has reported that the company began the progressive shutdown of the 1.6Mt/yr integrated line at its Sant Vincenç dels Horts cement plant in Barcelona, Catalonia, on 31 March 2020, and switched off the plant on 2 April 2020.

Cementos Molins said that it has already suspended production in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia and Tunisia. It says it has ‘implemented the teleworking model in the areas of the company where its application is possible.’