Displaying items by tag: meeting
Himachal Pradesh government holds talks over Gagal and Darlaghat cement plant closures
12 January 2023India: Representatives of Adani Group and cement truck drivers' unions attended talks held by the Himachal Pradesh state government, after the group closed two cement plants in the state, claiming that their costs were prohibitively high. The government appointed Himachal Consultancy Organisation to guide truck unions in reaching an agreement on new freight rates. Adani Group chair Gautam Adani said that transport costs per tonne of cement were US$1.30/km in upland areas and US$0.66/km in lowland areas. The state government previously raised value added tax (VAT) rates on diesel by 68% to US$0.09/l, resulting in total diesel costs of US$1.05/l.
Jaypee Power Ventures considering sale of Nigrie grinding plant
12 December 2022India: Jaypee Power Ventures' board of directors met on 12 December 2022 to discuss the possible sale of the company's Nigrie grinding plant in Madhya Pradesh. Press Trust of India News has reported that parent company Jaiprakash Jaypee Group's audit committee recommended the sale under proposed measures to reduce the group's debt. The producer had been in talks with Adani Group about the possible sale of its cement business, along with other non-core assets, for US$606m in October 2022.
Jaypee Power Ventures operates 4Mt/yr-worth of cement capacity, 40% of Jaypee Group's total 10Mt/yr.
Guyanese officials meet Cementos Cienfuegos representatives
29 November 2022Cuba/Guyana: Guyanese government officials attended a meeting with representatives of Cuba-based Cementos Cienfuegos on 25 November 2022. The Guyana Chronicle newspaper has reported that the Cuban government advised the Guyanese officials of the feasibility of importing Cuban building materials, including cement, into Guyana.
US: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) hosted chief executive officers (CEO)from across the global cement industry at its CEO Gathering in Atlanta, Georgia, on 9 June 2022. The event explored the best ways for the sector to progress towards net zero CO2 emissions. Speakers included: UN special advisor on climate Selwin Hart, US Department of Energy assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management in the Brad Crabtree, architecture firm Gensler CEO Diane Hoskins, Chair of Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) executive chair Bjorn Otto and climate economist Gernot Wagner.
GCCA CEO Thomas Guillot said “To achieve net zero and enable the delivery of the sustainable built environment of the future, there needs to be ongoing engagement and deeper collaboration between our industry and government in the years ahead. Targeted government policy will be vital to removing barriers and to expediting our industry’s decarbonisation plans.”
Canada: Workers at St Mary’s Cement’s Port-Daniel-Gascons cement plant have voted in favour of taking strike action in a dispute over matters including wages and pensions. Local press has reported that workers and the company, a subsidiary of Brazil-based Votorantim Cimentos, will sit in negotiations on 13 and 14 June 2022. Employees previously rejected a ‘final and comprehensive’ offer from the company earlier in May 2022.
India: The Indian government has established a special panel to examine an array of possible measures to lower high cement prices in parts of the country. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the panel will consider plans, including increasing cement shipping from South Indian plants currently operating under capacity to areas affected by shortages. The national government is in talks with the South India Cement Manufacturers' Association (SICMA) about the possibility of increasing members' cement sales in future.
Philippines: The Philippines Tariff Commission (TC) has launched an investigation into the possible extension of the safeguard measure against imports of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) Type 1 and blended cement Type 1P. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines previously filed a petition for the extension. The TC will hold its preliminary conference on the matter on 8 March 2022.
The commission said “Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of investigation, appearance of counsel and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents and public file, confidentiality of documents, submission of position paper(s) and memoranda, conduct of inspection and verification of data and schedules of public hearings and other activities.”
Locals stage armed protest against Dalmia Cement (Bharat)’s Katamateru cement plant plans
10 January 2022India: Locals in Odisha’s Malkangiri district gathered in the town of Katamataru on 9 January 2022 to protest plans for the establishment of a new Dalmia Cement (Bharat) cement plant in the area. The New Indian Express newspaper has reported that protestors allege that the state government did not conduct the proper tendering procedures for the proposed plant. More than 2000 people, wielding traditional tribal weaponry, gathered at an assembly. They resolved not to vote at upcoming village council elections if the government continues not to listen to their objections.
Canada: St Mary’s Cement plans to apply for a licence to substitute alternative fuel (AF) for a part of its coal, gas and petcoke fuel mix. The plant previously held a two-week AF substitution trial in May 2011. CBC News has reported that the subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos will present its plan at an evening meeting for the general public on 18 November 2021. The company says that it plans to implement similar AF arrangements to those at its Bowmanville plant, where it uses 90,000t/yr of biomass, wood from construction and demolition and non-recyclable paper and plastics.
Environmental manager Ruben Plaza said "Lower CO2 emissions is the first consideration and, equally as important, the material has to be approved and available in sufficient quantities with a reliable and sustainable long-term supply."
Kerala government announces plan to reduce cement prices
04 November 2021India: The government of Kerala plans to increase its cement production in order to help lower the price of cement in the state. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the state owns 10% of its cement industry. It plans for state-owned Travancore Cements to increase grey cement, white cement and wall putty production at its Nattakom grinding plant in Moolavattom. Its other cement company, Malabar Cement, previously increased its cement production.
The state government also convened a meeting of private sector cement producers in order to discuss the possibility of a reduction in the price of cement.