Global Cement News

Nepal: Investment Board Nepal (IBN) and Huaxin Cement have signed a Project Investment Agreement (PIA) for the Chinese company to build a cement plant. The agreement follows the Department of Mines and Geology’s decision to award a limestone mine in Dhading district to the Chinese cement producer, according to the Xinhua news agency. Huaxin Cement plans to spend US$140m towards building a plant with a cement production capacity of 3000t/day. The deal follows an agreement between the IBN and Hongshi Cement finalised in September 2017 to build a new plant for around US$360m.

Nepal: The Department of Mines and Geology has technically disqualified Nigeria’s Dangote Cement from applying for three limestone mine licences in an open bidding process. The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) had approved the investment in 2013 before passing the application to the mining department, according to the Republica newspaper. Department deputy director general Ram Prasad Ghimire claimed that Dangote's proposals lacked essential documents on the required skilled manpower and it was not considered qualified for the next financial proposal.

Dangote Cement had applied for three mines: two in Dhading and one in Palpa. However, China’s Huaxin and United Cements recently won two limestone mining licences. Previously, Dangote Cement purchased a limestone mine in Makawanpur that was later found to be a substandard. The Nigerian company has also faced opposition from local producers who have described the country as being self-sufficient in cement.

China: China Resources Cement has started a production line at a subsidiary in Hepu County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The new line has a clinker production capacity of 1.6Mt/yr and a cement production capacity of 2Mt/yr. At present the company has a clinker and cement production capacity of 26.6Mt/yr and 33.2Mt/yr respectively in the region.

Egypt: Khaled Fahmy, the Minister of Environment, has recognised the work by subsidiaries of Suez Cement to reduce air pollution and so called ‘black cloud’ periods. The minister presented certificates of appreciation to the manager of Helwan cement plant, Ahmad Ragae, the manager of Tourah cement plant, Omar Khorshid, the manager of the Environment Department at Helwan cement plant, Ragheb Hammouda and the manager of Environment Department at the Tourah cement plant, Badry Ibrahim.

Canada/France: Pension investment management companies La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) have each purchased a minority stake in France’s Fives. CDPQ and PSP Investments will each acquire a ‘significant’ minority stake in Fives, which will remain controlled by its management, to support its next development phase. Ardian, an investment house, will continue to be part of the new shareholding structure, as a minority co-investor. The completion of the transaction remains subject to approval by relevant regulatory authorities. No value for the deal has been disclosed.

“We are very enthusiastic to enter a new phase of our development with CDPQ and PSP Investments. Their long-term approach to investment, their deep valuable industrial insights and their strategic vision aligned with that of the management team make them ideal partners for the group, allowing Fives to take advantage, at a global scale, of the full potential of our diversified operations,” said Frédéric Sanchez, chief executive officer (CEO) of Fives Group.

Founded in 1812, engineering company Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for industries including cement, minerals, aluminium, steel, glass, automotive, aerospace, logistics, energy and sugar. The group is located in over 30 countries and it has nearly 8400 employees.