Displaying items by tag: lime

US: Lhoist will raise the price of its lime products by US$0.2/t for every US$0.05 rise in its natural gas costs above US$2.6/MMBtu from 1 November 2021. The producer says that the price rise reflects supply challenges and increased costs, of which energy costs have risen most significantly.

The producer said “We regret having to implement this energy surcharge, but believe it necessary in the face of these energy-related cost increases. Additionally, please note that this surcharge is independent of and in addition to 2022 price increases that will be necessary for Lhoist to keep pace with general inflationary factors impacting its cost structure.” It added “We appreciate your business and cooperation during this difficult time. If you have any questions regarding the above, feel free to contact your Lhoist sales representative.”

US: Mississippi Lime has appointed Paul Hogan as its president and chief executive officer (CEO). After a transition period he will take up the posts in early 2022 when the current holder, Bill Ayers, retires.

Hogan previously worked as the CEO of the Americas of Italmach Chemicals. In this position, he led their specialty chemical business in the Americas while also serving as the Global Vice President responsible for their oil and gas division. Previously, he held key positions of increasing responsibility with Solvay, Emerald Kalama Chemicals, Dupont Dow Elastomers, Elementis and Dynea. Hogan attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with Business Studies from the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Durham Business School in England.

Ireland: CRH’s first-half consolidated sales rose by 15% year-on-year in 2021 to Euro14.0bn from Euro12.2bn in the first half of 2020. Its earnings before interest, depreciation, taxation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 25% to Euro2.00bn from Euro1.59bn. Group profit for the period more than doubled to Euro815m from Euro406m. The divestment of its Brazilian cement business during the half contributed towards the profit growth. Cement volumes increased in all of the group’s regions. Cement, lime and cement products sales rose by 21% to Euro2.36bn from Euro1.94bn.

Chief Executive Albert Manifold said ‘‘I am pleased to report a good first half as the strength and resilience of our business model once again delivers superior performance for CRH. Our integrated and solutions-focused approach leaves us uniquely positioned for the changing needs of construction, while our continued strong cash generation provides us with the flexibility to invest in future growth opportunities for our business. Based on current trading conditions and the positive momentum that we see across our markets, we expect second-half group EBITDA to be ahead of a record prior year.’’

US: Lhoist and Maerz Ofenbau have started up a lime kiln at the Montevallo plant in Alabama. The R4S type PFR kiln supplied by Switzerland-based Maerz Ofenbau has a nominal production rate of 600t/day of lime and is able to fire gas and coal.

South Africa: PPC has agreed to sell its lime business to Kgatelopele Lime for US$36m. The cement producer previously identified PPC Lime as a non-core operation and the sale process started in December 2020. Kgatelopele Lime was formed to buy PPC Lime. Its shareholders are mineral resources trader IMR Resources, investment holding companies Kolobe Nala Investment Lime, HEX2M and JJJL Mining. The divestment is subject to consent by competition authorities and the government by the end of 2021.

PPC Lime originally started operations in 1954 in Lime Acres, Northern Cape. PPC Lime continues to mine out of two quarries, mining dolomite and limestone respectively, along with a rotary kiln plant to manufacture the burnt product. PPC Lime generated revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the financial year that ended 31 March 2020 of US$59m and US$7.6m respectively.

Peru: Cementos Interoceanicos has contracted Switzerland-based Satarem to establish a 1.0Mt/yr cement plant in Puno. The Gestión newspaper has reported that Satarem intends to buy a 30% stake in the producer. The scheduled completion date for the work, which also includes setting up two new lime plants, is mid-late 2022. The total estimated cost of the project is US$158m.

The producer is reportedly seeking to expand its area of operations in other areas within Peru.

Austria: Weitersdorfer Group has consolidated its lime activities under lime subsidiary Intercal. The group says that the closer cooperation of locations under the regionally-rooted InterCal enables the most effective roll-out of new technology such as drones for stockpile management and supports sustainable production practices such as the use of blown wood dust in lime kilns. Austria-based W&P Kalk became InterCal Austria, Slovenia-based IGM became InterCal Slovenija and Croatia-based InterCal became InterCal Croatia.

Sales and marketing managing director Harald Braunecker said, InterCal's "The new umbrella brand enables future-orientated cooperation between the individual locations, thus strengthening our market position from Austria to the Black Sea. The name InterCal combines the international market claim of the umbrella brand with calcium carbonate, the most important basic raw material for lime production.” He added, "Thanks to cross-border synergy effects among the individual InterCal companies, it is also possible for us to place an even stronger focus on the topic of sustainable production."

Belgium: Carmeuse has signed a joint development agreement with France-based energy transition specialist ENGIE and John Cockerill for a carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) project in Wallonia. It will concentrate CO₂ from a new type of lime kiln and combine it with ‘green’ hydrogen to produce ‘e-methane.’ The hydrogen will be produced by a 75MW electrolyser plant powered by renewable electricity. The company said, “The produced e-methane will be suitable for injection into the national natural gas grid. This renewable e-methane can be used by industrial users or as an alternative fuel in the transport sector, thus allowing these sectors to decarbonise.”

Construction is due to begin in 2022 for commissioning of the installation in 2025. Its total investment cost is Euro150m. The partners have applied for funding from the EU Innovation Fund and Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) fund. The project’s estimated CO₂ emissions reduction over 10 years is 900,000t

Chief executive officer (CEO) Rodolphe Collinet said, “We are delighted to join forces with John Cockerill and ENGIE for the development of this very exciting and strategic project. It is a major step forward in our ambition to become CO₂-neutral by 2050. This project is a very concrete and important example of Carmeuse’s strong commitment and contribution to sustainable development.”

Uganda: The Uganda Development Corporation has announced that its subsidiary Moroto Ateker Cement is ready to begin construction of a 1.2Mt/yr integrated cement plant in Moroto District. The New Vision newspaper has reported that employees are clearing land and erecting a fence around the site. The company says that cement production will follow 18 months after the start of construction of the complex, which will also produce lime and marble. Senior engineer David Ekanya said that 600 local people will be directly employed in the plant’s operations.

It was previously reported in 2016 that Moroto Ateker Cement is a 51:49 joint venture of the state-owned Uganda Development Corporation and Savannah Mines.

US: Mississippi Lime has announced its acquisition of the Transload Terminal in Edwardsville, Kansas from LG Everist. President and chief executive officer (CEO) William Ayers said, “We are pleased with this acquisition and looking forward to further integrating this operation into our business. Mississippi Lime has been a long-term supplier of calcium-based products in this region, serving construction projects as well as many other industries. This acquisition serves to strengthen that commitment.”