Displaying items by tag: community

Spain: The Andalusian Labour Foundation for Cement and the Environment (FLACEMA) has announced the shortlist for the Award for the Best Communication on Sustainable Development in the Andalusian Cement Industry 2019 - 2020. The jury will select a winner from 19 articles by 13 writers, published between 1 January 2019 and 31 May 2020, taking into account “aspects such as the journalistic quality of the piece, its rigour and provision of data, the sources consulted and the investigativeness of the work” in highlighting the regional cement industry’s commitment to “principles such as sustainable development and the circular economy.”

FLACEMA said, “Due to Covid-19, 2019 – 2020 presents a novel situation. As such, the jury has especially taken into account those works on sustainable development in the industry that address initiatives designed to combat the outbreak.”

The jury announces the winner of the Euro2000 prize and runner-up for the Euro1000 prize on 1 November 2020.

Pakistan: Lucky Cement has partnered with Hunar Foundation to launch scholarships for dedicated vocational training programmes for eligible young people in Lakki Marwat District, Khyber Pakthunkhwa Province. The Daily Messenger has reported that the company said that the scheme aims to “empower the youth of Pakistan through skill development.”

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has made a donation of US$1.29m to the battle against Covid-19 in Nigeria. Business Day news has reported that the money will go towards “various initiatives aimed at fighting the pandemic.” Lafarge Africa previously gave the use of three of its facilities and donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for the isolation and treatment of Coronavrius patients in April 2020.

UK: Hanson Cement’s Ketton plant has been featured in a short film as part of ‘Triple Harvest’ by Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, an arts charity’s online exhibition of video films looking at public spaces in Northamptonshire. The programme explores the push and pull between nature and human presence and the effect that extracting resources from the landscape has upon those living within it. Amanda Loomes’ film ‘Combine’ mixes footage from the Ketton cement plant in Rutland in 2017 with archive extracts from ‘Double Harvest,’ ‘The Great Jib’ and ‘Iron Ore in Britain.’

Other works in the programme examine the experience of steel production, farming and the experience of refugees moving to the area. The project has been supported by Corby Borough Council Archives and funded by Arts Council England.

View the 'Triple Harvest' online exhibition here: http://fermynwoods.org/triple-harvest-films/

US: Fortune has named Cemex amongst socially impactful companies on its 2020 Change the World list. It gave the reasons for the company’s inclusion as “its efforts in social impact business models. One such initiative was the rapid deployment of solutions to meet the current challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Working with the Mexican Institute of Social Security and in coordination with more than 20 multi-sectoral partners in Mexico, Cemex built mobile hospitals with highly durable precast antibacterial concrete modules in a record time of two weeks per medical facility. This effort in Mexico will be replicated in other countries where Cemex has operations to contribute to global challenges positively.”

Chief executive officer (CEO) Fernando González said, “Once again, we are honoured by Fortune’s recognition of our efforts to improve the well-being and quality of life of the population. By living our purpose of building a better future and working with our stakeholders, we seek to develop innovative solutions while promoting a sustainable and resilient future.”

Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas helped make the Molinos de Guadaíra Special Education Centre (MGSEC) in Alcalá de Guadaíra, Seville Province suitable for socially-distanced teaching with a donation of desks and chairs. MGSEC director Nuria Gómez Pascual said that the materials "allow us to improve teaching, facilitating the distribution of students and enabling a greater distance between them,” in accordance with educational and health authorities’ recommendations against Covid-19.

Cementos Portland Valderrivas Alcalá de Guadaíra plant head of environment Pedro Lanagrán said, “The company is committed to the population of Alcala, and especially to the education sector – key to the proper development of our town.”

Mexico: Cemex has announced the awarding by its Scholarship Council of the Marcelo Zambrano Scholarship to architect Gonzalo Mendoza. The group says that the funding will support Mendoza through his post-graduate study abroad at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, UK.

Cemex said Scholarship Council member Jimena Hogrebe said, "Choosing a profile like Gonzalo's, due to his experience and interests, is important today because we are facing global situations in which it seems essential to have critical professionals who dare to propose new possibilities for architecture."

UK: Mexico-based Cemex has published plans for the redundancy of its entire South Ferriby, Lincolnshire logistics team. A total of 26 jobs are at stake. The Lincolnshire Today newspaper has reported that “it is no longer financially viable for Cemex to continue to operate the fleet at South Ferriby” following the mothballing of its 0.8Mt/yr integrated South Ferriby cement plant, according to the company. Its Rugby, Warwickshire fleet, Tilbury, Essex fleet and Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire fleet will pick up the remaining footprint.

Cemex said, “We understand that this news will be a further disappointment to the local community following the previous announcements about mothballing the South Ferriby plant. Thank you for your on-going support – we remain proud to have been such a valued part of the community. We would like to reiterate that all commitments to the local community will be maintained, including the work agreed as part of the Environment Agency flood protection project.” The South Ferriby plant was devastated by a tidal surge and resulting flooding in December 2013.

Indonesia: Indocement celebrated its 45th anniversary on 4 August 2020. To mark the occasion the company held tumpeng cutting ceremonies at four of its sites, issued new staff identification cards with updated logos and organised social media dance and singing competitions between different plants and divisions. The company’s President Director Christian Kartawijaya also inaugurated an expansion to the research and training centre at the integrated Cieureup plant in West Java. The cement producer became a subsidiary of Germany-based HeidelbergCement in 2001.

Egypt: Solomon Baumgartner Aviles, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Lafarge Egypt, says that cement demand fell by 6.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2020. In an interview with the Daily News Egypt newspaper he said that coronavirus has “strongly impacted the building materials sector” with the biggest effect on the individual construction market as people decided to save their money instead. He added that a government decision to halt licences for building, expanding, upgrading, amending, or supporting construction work for private housing in larger cities had also compounded the problem. Despite this he praised the government for supporting infrastructure projects, which are operating at full capacity.

Aviles also outlined how Lafarge Egypt has developed an integrated plan on Health, Cost and Cash to tackle the coronavirus crisis. So far it has donated over 80,000 masks and gloves, made 200L of antibacterial gel available, and supported public hospitals by refurbishing 460 ventilators.