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Lafarge Africa shareholders approve merger with United Cement Company of Nigeria and Atlas Cement 15 November 2017
Nigeria: The shareholders of Lafarge Africa have approved the merger with United Cement Company of Nigeria (Unicem) and Atlas Cement. Lafarge Africa chairman Bolaji Balogun said that the merger would streamline its operations and reduce its costs, according to the Nigerian Guardian newspaper. Lafarge Africa is the sole shareholder of Unicem and Atlas Cement.
Unicem operates the 5Mt/yr Mfamsoing cement plant at Calabar in Cross River State. Atlas Cement runs a 0.5Mt/yr terminal in Rivers State at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne. It originally supplied Ordinary Portland Cement but is now changing its market to the oil and gas sector.
Ghana and Iran building US$30m cement plant in joint venture 15 November 2017
Ghana/Iran: Ghana and Iran are building a 0.6Mt/yr cement plant at the Dawa Industrial Enclave near Tema in Ghana. Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia commissioned construction work at the project, according to the Ghana News Agency. The plant is scheduled for completion in late 2019. The project is a joint venture between the two countries, with Iran holding a 90% stake.
Suez Cement to merge with Helwan Cement 15 November 2017
Egypt: The board of directors of Suez Cement has agreed to merge with Helwan Cement. It also agreed to sell a 5% stake in Tura Cement. Both Suez Cement and Helwan Cement are owned by HeidelbergCement. Suez Cement operates two plants at Suez and Kattameya. Helwan Cement runs a single plant at Helwan.
CRH expresses formal interest in bidding for PPC 14 November 2017
South Africa: Ireland’s CRH has submitted a formal expression of interest to PPC towards making a cash offer for a controlling stake in the South African cement producer. The board of PPC has given CRH until the week commencing 20 November 2017 to conduct due diligence and make a firm offer. PPC said that it is still considering an offer from Fairfax Financial Holdings with the aid of Investec. It is also in discussion with LafargeHolcim about a potential deal.
Wagners’ initial public offering threatened by rival cement grinding plant in Brisbane 14 November 2017
Australia: An initial public offering by Wagners has been threatened from plans by a rival company to build a cement grinding plant and terminal in Brisbane, Queensland. Wagners operates its own 0.8Mt/yr grinding plant in the city and commentators mentioned by The Australian newspaper have speculated that this increased competition locally could damage its aspirations. However, Wagners believes that the new plant is unlikely to be built. The 0.2Mt/yr project from brick and tile maker Brickworks, in a consortium with Newman Quarrying and the Neilsen Group, remains in the planning stage.