Bolivia: Ramiro Heredia, the technology manager of Empresa Publica Productiva Cementos de Bolivia (ECEBOL), says that the company has an issue with the water supply to the new Potosí cement plant it is planning near Chuitara. The cement producer has asked the local government for help, according to the El Potosí newspaper. Once operational the plant will require 6.5l/s, although it will be able to cope with 3.5l/s during the construction phase. ECEBOL is also due to sign a contract with Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (ENDE) to provide electivity to the unit. Construction at the site is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2018.

Mozambique: Iran’s Qeshm Cement Company has prepared its first consignment of cement and clinker for exports to Mozambique. 47,000t of clinker and 3000t of clinker will be shipped on a free on board trade basis, according to the Bourse Press Agency. Hormoz Amiri, an official at Iran’s Qeshm Free Zone, added that the trading enclave plans to export 0.2Mt/yr of cement and clinker to Africa in the current Iranian financial year.

US: Roanoke Cement, a subsidiary of Titan America, has achieved its 11th consecutive annual certification in the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification for its Troutville plant in Virginia. To qualify for the certification the cement producer was required to perform in the top 25% of cement plants nationwide for total energy efficiency (thermal and electrical) and meet strict environmental performance levels set by the EPA.

“Roanoke Cement Company’s plant sits in the Roanoke Valley, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The stakes are higher for us, surrounded by all that beauty, to perform at the pinnacle of the cement industry in energy efficiency,” said Chris Bayne, Roanoke Cement’s Energy Manager.