Displaying items by tag: Transport
EQIOM slashes transport carbon footprint
19 June 2020France: CRH subsidiary EQIOM has announced a 9000t/yr reduction in its transport-related CO2 emissions, down by 5% to 171,000t/yr for the past three years from 180,000t in 2017. It achieved the reduction through its commitment to the FRET21 initiative, a sustainable development strategy of the Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie (ADEME) and Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret (AFAT).
The initiative is based on CO2 reduction around four key activities: loading rate; distance travelled; means of transport; and responsible purchasing. EQIOM launched five initiatives, including increasing laden returns of trucks to reduce empty transport to 28%, commissioning four new natural gas and bioethanol-powered vehicles and increasing rail freight to 89%.
EQIOM logistics manager Jérôme Becamel said, "As in the rest of the country, our transport activity has been impacted by the social situation, particularly strikes on the roads and in the railways. However, we are delighted with the results obtained for this first challenge even if we were unable to reach our ambitions 100%. We are only more motivated and we will be stepping up our efforts over the next three years.”
Fancesa suspends transport spending cuts
10 June 2020Bolivia: Fábrica Nacional de Cemento (Fancesa) has announced that no cuts will be made to transport spending until after the end of the coronavirus lockdown. Plans to reduce operating expenditure in this area have been opposed by the company’s drivers. Fancesa head of transportation Jhonny Palma said, “Both parties now have the time to analyse the proposals. In due course we will present our operating cost sheets and these will be put up for debate.”
European Roadmap Towards Lifting COVID-19 Containment Measures gives hope to cement producers
23 April 2020EU: The European Council and European Commission have published their joint coronavirus exit strategy, entitled ‘European Roadmap Towards Lifting COVID-19 Containment Measures.’ It advises EU member states on a course of action aimed at restoring community life and the economy, while also preserving public health, after the coronavirus outbreak.
The roadmap consists of a progressive lifting of travel restrictions, initially between border regions, then between regions less affected by the outbreak and subsequently across internal and external borders of the EU. The strategy applies a similar approach to restarting the economy, beginning with ‘essential sectors’ such as construction. The Commission will maintain a rapid alert system for supply chain disruptions, with the help of existing networks such as the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), Clusters, Chambers of Commerce and trade associations.
Adelaide Brighton’s profit flops
27 February 2020Australia: Adelaide Brighton’s profit in 2019 was US$31.1m, down by 74% from US$122m in 2018. Sales were down by 7% to US$997m from US$1.07bn. Adelaide Brighton chairman Raymond Barro explained that ‘increased competition and softer demand for construction materials’ locally impacted revenue and earnings. He said that ‘cost pressures across sea freight, transport and raw materials’ caused the dive in profit.
Cement used in road rage attack
27 December 2019US: A cement truck travelling on a busy road in Wilmington, Massachusetts, dumped part of its load onto the vehicle of another driver, with whom the truck driver had ‘got into an argument.’ According to the Boston Globe newspaper, the offending truck sped away, but police identified the driver through the cement company. They have charged him with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of malicious destruction of property, leaving the scene of a crash that caused property damage, a marked lanes violation and disorderly conduct.
Dangote Cement enrols 600 drivers on training programme
18 December 2019Tanzania: Dangote Cement has partnered with local police and other stakeholders to train the 600 drivers it employs in Tanzania in road safety compliance. The Citizen has reported that the training programme will involve sessions four times a year, with the objective of reducing road traffic incidents to zero. Dangote Cement Head of Transport Gerald Osagia said, “This training is aimed at ensuring that out drivers avoid any temptation that may cause accidents.” Global Cement has previously reported alleged overloading of a Dangote truck as a contributing factor in collision in August 2019 that killed three and injured 69 in Ikorodu, Nigeria.
Najran Cement establishes transport division
28 November 2019Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement’s board of directors voted on 27 November in favour of the establishment of limited liability transport company. Due to market conditions, the new subsidiary will not be incorporated until 30 June 2020. Najran Cement did not confirm the size of the investment in its statement.
Holcim Belgium begins export of cement to France by rail
23 September 2019Belgium: Holcim Belgium has finished loading around 1250t of cement from its 1.7Mt/yr integrated Obourg cement plant onto a train in Obourg in Belgium’s Hainaut province. It leaves on 24 September 2019 for Lafarge France’s Bonneuile-Sur-Marne, Île-de-France depot. La Province has reported that LafargeHolcim began the process on 20 September 2019 with the conveyance of cement by three shuttle trucks to the train’s 12 carriages. LafargeHolcim spokesperson Séverine Baudoin has explained that the undertaking, LafargeHolcim’s first of its kind in the region, is a part of its sustainable development plan applied to distribution to new clients in the Paris area.
Growth in Indian cement industry fuels price speculation
15 October 2018India: Shailendra Chouksey, president of the Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA), has warned that cement prices could rise by up to 10% due to growing fuel and transportation costs. The local industry grew by 14% in the first half of the 2018 – 2019 year, according to the Press Trust of India.
"There is a very dire need to correct the pricing. In the last year we have seen 60-70% rise in the cost of fuel. To recover at least some portion of this increase, we need to increase the prices of cement," said Chouksey. He added that cement prices had been ‘almost stagnant’ since around 2011. However, he conceded that the industry still has surplus capacity.
Aalborg Portland signs five-year transport deal
26 September 2018Denmark: Aalborg Portland has signed a five-year cement transport deal with Demstrup Autotransport and Silo Trans following a tendering process. The deal covers the producer’s domestic cement distribution of over 1.25Mt/yr. This involves more than 33,000 movements per year. Demstrup Autotransport will be responsible for distribution in North and Central Jutland and Zealand. Silo Trans will handle distribution in Sønderjylland and in Funen.