Displaying items by tag: Transport

Pakistan: Pakistan Railways (PR) is planning the construction of a 105km railway line that will link the Thar Coal mines with a Port at Qasim. The project is being financed by the Sindh state and national governments and will be completed by October 2025.

An official from the Ministry of Railways said that the line would bolster the nation's bulk transportation capabilities, aligning with broader economic growth objectives and facilitating coal transportation across the country, supporting key industries like cement production. After the completion of the project, the rail network is expected to have the capacity to transport 10Mt/yr of coal, shifting Pakistan's reliance from imported to domestic coal sources.

India: Orissa Bengal Carrier has entered into a three-month contract to transport coal and petcoke for Shiva Cement, a subsidiary of JSW Cement, effective until 31 December 2024. The company has not disclosed the value of the contract.

New Zealand: Golden Bay Cement has resolved the breakdown of its Marine Vessel Aotearoa Chief (MVAC) earlier than anticipated, returning the vessel to service after necessary checks with marine authorities. The company made use of alternative transport options to distribute cement and sourced alternative cement supplies due to the disruption.

The earlier resolution has resulted in a reduced impact on earnings, estimated to be on the lower end of US$10m – 30m.

Canada: Finland-based Wärtsilä will provide a hybrid-electric propulsion system for an 11,000t-capacity limestone carrier, commissioned by CSL Group with China-based CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering and Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding. The order supports CSL Group’s decarbonisation strategy by optimising engine and battery load and reducing fuel consumption.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery to CSL Group in 2026 and will initially operate on a hybrid diesel and battery system, transitioning to full electric power by 2031 to reduce carbon emissions by 90%, according to CSL Group. Wärtsilä will supply the whole hybrid electric propulsion system, including generators, DC hub, energy management system, main propulsion e-motors, bow thruster e-motors and battery solution.

The director of Electrical & Power Systems at Wärtsilä Marine, Torsten Büssow, said "Wärtsilä is committed to making decarbonised shipping possible, so we are delighted to be supporting CSL with solutions that enhance the sustainability of their fleet. This is a short sea shipping vessel that will operate with a lot of manoeuvring and variable load profiles, and electrification and hybridisation systems are the most efficient for such vessels."

Italy: NovaAlgoma, a joint venture between the Italian-Swiss Nova Marine Carriers and Canada's Algoma Central Corporation, has announced the construction of the ‘world’s largest and greenest’ cement carrier, weighing 38,000t. This vessel will be built by Xinle Shipbuilding in China and delivered by the end of 2026. It will reportedly be the first to use both traditional fuel and methanol and can connect to electrical grids in ports to eliminate emissions, according to local news reports. Additionally, it will feature a waste heat recovery system that converts exhaust gases into 250kW of electrical energy.

Vincenzo Romeo, CEO of Nova Marine, said "This new construction, which meets the forecasts for the development of our fleet and the growth of cement market demand in the coming years, is intended to consolidate our positioning among the global leaders in cement transportation.”

Comoros: Cimentos Comores is considering finding temporary sources of bagged cement after its regular bulk deliveries via the Port of Moroni, Grand Comore, became disrupted. Al-Watwan News has reported that a malfunctioning landing buoy has prevented cargo ships from landing at the port.

Cimentos Comores said “In the absence of a technical solution, we will be forced to cancel the operations.”

Russia: Belarusian Cement has concluded a deal with the Moscow regional government to build a logistics facility in the region at Naro-Fominsk. Prime Press News has reported that the facility will cost US$22.5m. It will be equipped with ready-mix concrete, precast concrete and dry mix plants, as well as a rail terminal, storage areas and loading zones for despatches by road.

Director General Alexander Dovgalo said "This investment will not only bolster our logistics capabilities but also enhance our service quality for Russian partners and extend our market reach within Russia and the CIS member states."

US: Cemex and Clean Energy Fuels have entered into a fuelling agreement to supply renewable natural gas (RNG) to 39 of Cemex US’s ready-mix and cement bulk trucks in Southern California. The agreement is projected to provide around 1.1Ml/yr of RNG. Cemex plans to complete the project by the end of 2024 and start fuelling the trucks on-site soon after.

Francisco Rivera, Cemex US Regional President West Region, said "As leaders in the building materials industry, we recognise the pivotal role we play in building a more sustainable future. Embracing renewable fuels isn't just an option; it's an imperative.”

Belarus: Belarus Cement Group (BCG) will export 67,000t of cement to Russia by rail in May 2024, using its own train, which will complete 18 runs. So far, the BCG train has completed 9 runs to the Central Federal District of Russia, delivering 37,000t of cement.

The Ministry of Architecture and Construction of Belarus said "This month, the BCG has launched a fixed-route train of its own hopper wagons to deliver cement to Russia. The first train was dispatched from the Belarusian cement plant (Kostyukovichi, Mogilev Oblast) to Moscow Oblast.”

India: India's cement sector has launched a pilot programme utilising electric trucks, according to the Times of India. The industry has deployed about 150 electric vehicles, exploring their potential for reducing long-term operating costs, despite challenges like high initial costs and inadequate charging infrastructure, according to the Cement Manufacturers’ Association president and Shree Cement managing director Neeraj Akhoury.

A report called ‘Greening Logistics: Electrification in cement & raw material transport’ was released, stating that the industry is heavily reliant on road transport and internal combustion engine trucks for moving cement, clinker and other raw materials across an average distance of 300km. The report also says that the transition to E-trucks presents an opportunity to slash logistic costs by 25-40%. Vehicles that operate over 8000km per month can achieve profitability considering current energy and infrastructure costs. Additionally, E-trucks powered by renewable energy could cut CO₂ emissions by up to 100% when compared to internal combustion engine trucks, which emit approximately 6kg of CO₂ per tonne of cement transported over a 100km range.

Madhavkrishna Singhania, chairman of Green Cementech 2024 and deputy managing director and CEO of JK Cement said "Despite challenges such as higher cost of ownership, longer payback periods, and limited charging infrastructure, the cement sector has shown leadership by deploying EVs for material handling and dispatch operations, even on lead distance routes exceeding 100km."