Spain: Cemex España has signed a 10-year renewable energy supply deal with Acciona Energía. The producer expects the contract to cover 30% of its power consumption. It used 30% renewable energy in 2021, and is aiming to achieve 55% renewables use by 2030.

Cemex Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia president Sergio Menendez said "Increasing clean energy consumption plays a key role within our decarbonisation plan." He concluded "This agreement shows commitment to our clean energy transition, adding to the success of similar agreements in other geographies."

Namibia: 200 Cheetah Cement employees have gone on strike to protest low wages and lack of pensions and medical aid. The Namibia Press Agency has reported that salaries have fallen behind inflation, having remained level for four years.

Cheetah Cement general manager Kevin Lee called strikers’ demands ‘unrealistic’ and said that the producer had done everything in its power, but now ended in a ‘deadlock’ with workers.

US: A 43-year old worker died after sustaining severe injuries at Giant Cement’s Harleyville, South Carolina, cement plant on 21 July 2022. Local press has reported that the cause of the tragedy involved a conveyor belt at the plant.

Philippines: Cemex subsidiary Solid Cement is installing a new US$356m, 1.5Mt/yr line at its Antipolo cement plant. When operational in April 2024, the line will increase the plant’s capacity by 79% to 3.4Mt/yr. Over the first four months of the project since March 2022, Solid Cement invested US$197m in silos and mechanical installation. The new 1.5Mt/yr line will use Low Temperature Clinker technology to reduce its CO₂ emissions, and will also recycle waste hot gases for raw materials drying.

Solid Cement is building the plant using 6000t of its own Vertua reduced-CO2 cement, which it says will further reduce its net carbon footprint by 564t.

Philippines president and CEO Luis Franco said “We will maintain our active role in supporting the development of this nation, as we have done in the past 25 years.”

US: Vicat subsidiary National Cement Company of Alabama inaugurated its new US$300m production line at its Ragland cement plant on 21 July 2022. Local press has reported that the line includes a new rotary kiln, equipped for alternative fuel (AF) use.

President Spencer Weitman said “This puts us into the next 40 or 50 years. And it’s prolonged the life of the plant to move us forward into the next century hopefully.”

Poland: PGE Group is ordering a feasibility study for a planned new cement production facility in Bełchatów county. Polish News Bulletin has reported that the plant will take advantage of locally available fly ash from coal-fired power plants.

China: Tangshan Jidong Cement plans to raise US$148m through an issuance of bonds. Reuters News has reported that the producer will use some of the funds to repay its debts, and the remainder to replenish its capital.

Australia: Boral announced the expiration of its tender offer for up to US$300m-worth of guaranteed senior notes on 21 July 2022. The producer recorded a total principal amount tendered of US$425.7m. The 3.75% notes are due in 2028.

Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak says that it has no plan to double the capacity of its Bintulu, Sarawak, grinding plant, Reuters News has reported. The company, however, noted the potential ‘opportunity’ offered by the construction of a new Indonesian capital in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on the opposite side of Borneo.

Canada: The provincial government of Alberta has signed a contribution agreement for US$3.87m in funding towards Lafarge Canada’s planned carbon capture installation at its Exshaw cement plant. The cost of the system is US$20.9m. Offshore Energy News has reported that it is one of 11 carbon capture projects in the province which Alberta Minister of Energy Sonya Savage said will be operational by 2030. Ultimately, project partners plan to establish a CO₂ sequestration hub and transport network connecting the capture sites of various industry partners.