Displaying items by tag: construction

Morocco: Members of the Professional Association of Cement Producers (APC) delivered a total of 6.98Mt of cement during the first seven months of 2023. This corresponds to a year-on-year rise of 2.1%, compared with seven-month 2022 levels. Agence Marocaine de Presse News has reported that ready-mix concrete plants consumed 4.29Mt (61%), and precast concrete plants 1.37Mt (20%), of cement deliveries. Producers despatched 367,000t (5.3%) of cement to infrastructure construction sites, and 271,000t (3.9%) to other building sites.

Australia: Alternative cement and concrete producers have welcomed a new Australian civil engineering standard that allows builders to use reduced-CO₂ geopolymer concrete in infrastructure projects. Wagners, which produces Earth Friendly Concrete (EFC), said that the revision has removed on if its key barriers to wider market acceptance. EFC replaces 100% of cement with supplementary cementitious materials, including ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and pulverised fly ash, by virtue of its binder technology. Wagners previously supplied EFC for the London Power Tunnels project in the UK, based on local technical approval-based building codes. The producer now expects a new standard like the Australian one to follow in the EU.

Uzbekistan: United Cement Group (UCG) subsidiary Kuvasaycement is building a sixth grinding unit at its Quvasoy cement plant in Fergana. Business World Magazine has reported that China-based Sinoma International Engineering will supply the equipment for the expansion, consisting of a roller press and ball mill, equipped with a separator and pre-grinder.

Kuvasaycement general director Denis Nikitin said "In recent years, we have systematically replaced outdated equipment, renewed our car fleet, installed new filters to reduce cement dust emissions and modernised cement mills in accordance with the highest requirements to which UCG adheres. The cement market in Uzbekistan is rather saturated and, in order to increase production competitiveness, we decided to commission one more cement mill to 'cover' the capacity of the existing five mills. It is also connected with additional demand for products for the construction of bridges, roads and airports. This is state-of-the-art equipment with new grinding capabilities that we have been missing."

India: Ramco Cements has commissioned a 3000t/day integrated cement line at its Ramamasamy Raja Nagar cement plant in Tamil Nadu. Projects Today News has reported that the plant runs on renewable energy from a captive wind farm, and recycles 90% of water used in production.

Ramco Cements produces Ramco 53 Infra Super cement at the Ramamasamy Raja Nagar plant. The product allows for lower cement and admixture content to be used in the production of concrete structures.

India: Birla Corporation says that it expects to sell 18.1Mt of cement during the 2024 financial year (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024), up by 15% year-on-year from 15.7Mt in the 2023 financial year. That financial year, sales grew by 11% year-on-year. Looking ahead, the producer expects its new 3.9Mt/yr Mukutban cement plant in Maharashtra increase its sales. It said that it may also carry out future expansions at its Chanderia cement plant in Rajasthan.

The Hindu BusinessLine newspaper has reported that managing director and CEO Sandip Ghose said "Our strategy is based on prices not going up significantly. Volumes are going to move in a healthy manner unless there are any major dislocations, disruptions or hiccups going forward. I am very bullish on the India growth story." Regarding the company's Gujarat market in Western India, he said "Gujarat had gone through exponential growth in the past year, which boosted certain companies' profitability because of the bullet train, the expressway and other developments." Ghose forecast similar demand growth in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

World: Market Research Future has forecast a composite annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% between 2022 and 2030. This would result in a market value of US$505bn in 2030, compared with US$335bn in 2022. The report added that the rate of new construction projects is increasing across all regions.

Saudi Arabia: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies (HGCT) and property developer Shurfah Holding have signed a letter of intent to conclude a licensing agreement for use of HGCT’s technology by the state-owned construction firm. BusinessWire News has reported that HGCT plans to build four new units to produce its clinker-free alternative cement in Saudi Arabia. Construction will begin in 2024. Shurfah Holding said that the partnership signals progress towards the development of smart cities under the state’s Vision 2030 economic plan.

HGCT co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann thanked Shurfah Holding and said that the partnership represents an acceleration in the producer’s international development.

US: Heidelberg Materials North America inaugurated its 2.4Mt/yr Mitchell cement plant in Indiana on 14 July 2023. The plant is equipped with a 3600 bag/hr rotary packer, and also boasts a 154,000t-capacity clinker storage dome. It will produce Heidelberg Materials North America's EcoCem Portland limestone cement (PLC), alongside other products. The producer said that the new plant will help to address US cement supply chain constraints amid a planned US$110bn infrastructure overhaul.

Heidelberg Materials North America president and chief executive officer Chris Ward said "The plant will reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne of clinker by almost 30%, mainly through operating on natural gas. Our investment in the Mitchell facility helps us lower our carbon footprint, while serving the growing demand for more sustainable products in this key market.”

Ireland/US: Shareholders have approved Ireland-based CRH's board recommendation to transition to a US primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company says that it will effect its transition on or around 25 September 2023. This will entail delisting shares from Ireland's Euronext Dublin, while retaining a standard listing on the UK's London Stock Exchange (LSE).

CRH derived 75% of earnings from North America in 2022. It expects the US market to be a key driver of future growth due to the country's growing populace and construction needs.

CEO Albert Manifold said "We are pleased to see such strong shareholder support for the listing transition, as it marks an important milestone in our development and will enable CRH to fully participate in the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead.”

Philippines: Holcim Philippines introduced Holcim Optima, a blended Portland limestone cement (PLC), on the Philippine market on 8 June 2023. The Business Mirror newspaper has reported that Holcim Optima cement offers 10% reduced CO₂ emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

President and CEO Horia Adrian said that Holcim Optima cement 'delivers the same strength, workability and durability as OPC and remains compatible with other cement additives such as slag and fly ash. The new product is best used in large building projects and available in bulk.' Adrian added "It is a timely product for the Philippines, as infrastructure building accelerates and green demand grows."