Displaying items by tag: Supply

Spain: Cementos Cosmos plans to scale down the production of clinker at its Córdoba cement plant as a result as the high cost of electricity. The Cordoba Day newspaper has reported that parent company Votorantim Cimentos said that clinker grinding operations at the site will continue to ensure a sufficient cement supply in the region.

The Córdoba cement plant employs 48 people. The company is currently negotiating the situation and the scope of its impacts with the workforce.

Pakistan: The government plans to raise the rate of federal excise duty for cement plants operating at less than 100% capacity utilisation. The Dawn newspaper has reported that the measure aims to reduce cement prices in the country. Taxes are currently US$8.55/t of cement produced. In the 2021 financial year, capacity utilisation was at 84% of the available 69.3Mt/yr total capacity. Since the 2017 financial year, it has dropped below 75% in some years. Over the five-year period, the national cement capacity has increased at an average of 8.6% annually.

Ministry of Finance spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam said “Who should we protect: consumers or cement makers? Is it not harmful for the country that they have joined hands and set a higher market price?”

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement has secured an agreement with Hyogo Prefecture for the future reception and processing of the prefecture’s waste from disasters such as earthquakes. The company says that the agreement will facilitate the rapid reception of such materials and to best support clean-up efforts.

President Hironori Morohashi said “We will continue to strengthen our cooperative relationship with Hyogo Prefecture and work to form a sustainable society and develop and improve the region.”

Uzbekistan: The government has extended its suspension of tariffs on imports of cement until 1 November 2021. Business World Magazine News has reported that the policy aims to reduce the cost of housing. In order to support the domestic cement industry, producers’ tax rate will be reduced to 15% from 20%. The government will also halve taxes on natural resources.

Kenya: Cement companies are in the process of expanding their total clinker production capacity by 70% to 10.7Mt/yr by 2023 from 6.3Mt/yr. The Business Daily newspaper has reported that six producers – Bamburi Cement, East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC), Karsan Ramji & Sons, National Cement, Rai Cement and Savannah Cement – will add a total of 4.4Mt/yr to their clinker capacities.

Global Cement News previously reported that Kenya faced a 3.3Mt/yr national clinker shortage on 13 October 2021. Domestic producers are in the process of lobbying the government to raise the duty on imports of clinker to 25% from 10%.

Argentina: Sit-in protesters from the Argentinean Mining Workers Association (AOMA) have blocked access to the hoppers of limestone crushers at Minerar’s Olavarría quarry, according to the Clarín newspaper. The quarry supplies limestone to Loma Negra’s La Amali cement plant.

The cement producer said “The biggest problem is that if they don't solve the problem, and stop the supply raw material, it will complicate cement production."

US: LafargeHolcim US and ECOncrete Tech have launched a research and development collaboration to design and manufacture a fully structural concrete scour protection unit for offshore wind turbines. The unit’s specifications include seabed stabilisation and promotion of the growth of marine organisms. The collaboration includes a large-scale pilot project to evaluate the ecological performance of units in an offshore environment. The US/Canada Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy programme are funding the project, which will conclude in May 2024.

LafargeHolcim US commercial excellence vice president Josep Maset said “There are many paths to achieving our net zero commitment, and most require innovative partnerships and out-of-the-box thinking. The work we’re doing with ECOncrete Tech is a notable example of searching for solutions that enable increased use of renewable energy in an environmentally responsible way.”

India: Shree Cement has hired FLSmidth to supply a 11,5000t/day kiln line for its planned Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, cement plant. The line will consist of a six-stage preheater and a three-support kiln. The supplier will also deliver an OK vertical roller mill, which it says has a 5 – 10% lower energy consumption than a standard vertical roller mill. The project focuses on sustainable productivity and emissions control. Shree Cement has opted for JetFlex burners to give the lowest possible nitrous oxide emissions for various fuel types.

Shree Cement managing director Prashant Bangur said “Based on the experience of working with FLSmidth on the installation of a 9,000t/day pyro system at the Raipur, Chhattisgarh, cement plant earlier this year, we felt confident about approaching Carsten Riisberg Lund and his team regarding the Rajasthan project.” He added “Being recognised as a Sustainability Champion by the World Economic Forum is a testament of our emphasis on sustainability at every stage of our operations. The new line will push that agenda even further in terms of lowering the benchmarks on energy consumption and emissions, and thereby reducing our environmental footprint.”

FLSmidth also supplied a second OK mill for Shree Cement’s operations in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Germany: Scientists at the University of Kassel in Hessen have launched a study into the use of ash from waste incinerators in precast concrete production. The Hessische Allgemeine newspaper has reported that a waste-to-energy plant in Kassel will provide the ash for concrete production in partnership with local companies Kimm Baustoffe and Gebäudeke Baustoff-Recycling. The study aims to produce pre-cast concrete elements containing at least 30% ash, beginning with paving slabs and noise barriers.

Project leader David Laner said that ash has the potential to help lower concrete’s carbon footprint. He said “So far, it has been put to lesser-value uses; we make a product out of it - upcycling instead of downcycling.”

Canada: Habitats for Humanity has again partnered with Lafarge Canada for its annual affordable housing fundraiser in Kingston, Ontario. This year, the partners will attempt to raise US$21,700 over 27 days to support the construction of sustainable housing in Eastern Canada. Lafarge Canada has pledged 80m3 of its ECOPact reduced-CO₂ concrete to the project.

Eastern Canada regional head of environment and sustainability Rob Cumming said "Our sustainability goals overlap safe housing with reduced climate impact.” He added "We are excited about this first milestone and are looking forward to the future supply of our ECOPlanet solutions.”