Nigeria: GE Gas Power expects to commission a new 50MW power plant at a Dangote Cement site in early 2023. The supplier said that the new power plant will provide energy for Dangote Cement's cement production and refinery operations.

The This Day newspaper has reported that the new plant is part of a total 500MW-worth of new power infrastructure which GE Gas Power expects to commission in Nigeria before July 2023.

India: JK Cement's consolidated sales were US$839m during the first nine months of the 2023 financial year, up by 23% year-on-year from US$682m during the corresponding period of the 2022 financial year. The producer's costs grew across all areas of expenditure, resulting in a net profit for the period of US$37.4m, down by 36% year-on-year.

JK Cement received approval for the issuance of up to US$12.1m in redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on private placement basis on 6 February 2023.

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh says that it will take 'legal action' against Adani Group should it fail to reopen its Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants. The Times of India newspaper has reported that measures may include cancellation of the cement producer's relevant land leases. Out-of-work truck drivers agreed to cancel a state-wide road blockade in protest against the closures after the government promised a 'resolution' on 4 February 2022. It now plans to hold talks with Adani Group, in which it will relay truck drivers' offer of an 11% reduction in per-kilometre freight rates to US$0.12/t from US$0.14/t.

Himachal Pradesh industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the state government is empowered to take drastic measures in defence of Himachali people's interests.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials are reportedly investigating alleged illegal mining at the sites of the Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants.

India: Birla Corporation recorded nine-month consolidated sales of US$751m so far in the 2023 financial year, up by 20% year-on-year from US$628m in the first nine months of the 2022 financial year. The company made a net loss of US$5.37m however, compared to a net profit of US$34.7m during the first nine months of the 2022 financial year.

Birla Corporation did not publish a figure for fuel and electricity costs, however its raw materials costs rose by 25% year-on-year to US$111m, while its 'other expenses' more than doubled to US$565m.

India: The board of directors of Star Cement has approved the sale of shares in two of its subsidiaries to a third subsidiary, Star Cement Meghalaya. Star Cement Meghalaya will acquire 40% stakes in Meghalaya-based Star Cement (I) and Assam-based Star Cement North East.

Neither Star Cement (I) nor Star Cement North East has yet to commence cement production. Parent company Star Cement is currently building two new grinding plants in Northeast India, where it is the market leader. The group also announced plans for a new 3Mt/yr clinker line in June 2022.

UAE: RAK White Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$67.4m in 2022, up by 3.3% year-on-year from US$65.3m in 2021. The producer recorded a 36% year-on-year profit drop to US$5.74m from US$8.95m.

During the third quarter of the year, RAK White Cement secured the approval of its board of directors to delist its shares from the Boursa Kuwait stock exchange.

Australia: Germany-based Christian Pfeiffer has received an order for a grinding circuit comprising a 16.3m-long ball mill and a QDK T 250-Z type separator from Hallett Construction Materials. The circuit will have a capacity of 84t/hr, according to the supplier. Hallett Construction Materials plans to use the equipment at its upcoming Port Augusta slag cement grinding plant. The plant is scheduled for commissioning in January 2024.

Hallett Construction Materials chief executive officer Kane Salisbury said, “For us, the sustainability of the plant is the highest priority. That’s why we manufacture cement containing 100% slag.” Salisbury added “The Christian Pfeiffer process experts convinced us that the ball mill, in combination with a high efficiency separator, is the best system to serve our requirements.”

India: Police arrested 50 truck drivers and union leaders at protests outside Ambuja Cements’ Darlaghat cement plant in Himachal Pradesh on 1 February 2023. The events marked the 50th day of on-going protests against Adani Group’s closure of the Darlaghat and Gagal cement plant following its acquisition of Ambuja Cements and ACC in September 2022. The Times of India newspaper has reported that cement truck driver’s unions are now threatening to escalate the protests to a ‘chakka jam’ demonstration across Himachal Pradesh. This would involve blocking roads at five planned locations in the state. Union representatives will meet Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 3 February 2022. Sukhu has repeatedly expressed support for protestors, saying that the state will not tolerate exploitation.

United News of India has reported that protestors on 1 February 2023 voiced criticism of Indian ‘lawlessness’ and of Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) power ‘monopoly’ in the country.

Mexico: GCC has secured validation by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) for its latest CO₂ reduction goals. The group has committed to reducing its Scope 1 emissions per tonne of cementitious product by 31% and its Scope 2 emissions per tonne of cementitious product by 57% between 2015 and 2030. It has also committed to a 37.5% absolute reduction in its products’ Scope 3 emissions over the same period. The goals will serve as sustainability performance targets for GCC’s US$500m sustainability-linked bond, which it issued in January 2022.

GCC's vice president of sustainability and environment Gina Lotito said "We are proud and excited to be a catalyst of progress towards a low-carbon future. Our laser-focus on our climate change strategy and emphasis on reducing CO₂ emissions is a testament to our commitment to creating a sustainable future. While we celebrate our achievements, we acknowledge that there is still much work to be done and remain steadfast in our mission."

US: Mitsubishi Cement Corporation has reportedly abandoned its planned construction of a cement terminal at the Port of San Diego in California. The Union-Tribune newspaper has reported that the cement producer failed to produce a plan involving electric vehicle use for cement deliveries to the facility. Board of Port Commissioners rejected the company’s previous terminal proposal in 2020 because of its involvement of diesel-powered cement trucks.