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Emami Group plans 20Mt/yr expansion drive by 2021 26 October 2016
India: Emami Group is planning to build a cement production capacity of 15 – 20Mt/yr by 2021. It started operations at its 5.5Mt/yr cement plant in Chattisgarh in July 2016. In addition, two cement grinding plants are set to open in West Bengal and Odisha, according to the Press Trust of India. The West Bengal plant is due to open in January 2017.
"We aim to be among the top few players in the cement industry. Emami Cement plans to have a manufacturing capacity of 15 – 20Mt/yr over the next three to five years," said Aditya Agarwal, director of Emami Group.
Emami Cement has a limestone mine in Andhra Pradesh where it also plans to build a 2Mt/yr plant with an investment of US$225m. It also plans to build a 6Mt/yr plant in Rajasthan for US$524m.
Initially, the company plans to target markets in Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha and eastern Maharashtra's Vidharbha region. It sells cement under the 'Double Bull' brand.
New cement plant in Tunisia to open in 2018 26 October 2016
Tunisia: A new 1Mt/yr cement plant in Sidi Bouzid is set to open in 2018, according to Director General of Manufacturing Industry Brahim Chebili in an interview with African Manager. The project is budgeted at US$220m and will create 300 jobs.
Eagle Materials revenue rises slightly in first half of 2016 26 October 2016
US: Eagle Materials’ revenue has risen by 2.6% year-on-year to US$630m in the first half of 2016 from US$614m in the same period of 2015. Its net earnings rose by 56% to US$106m from US$67.6m. Revenue from its cement business rose by 10% to US$252m from US$229m. The company singled out the strong performance of its cement business in the second quarter of 2016 with record earnings. However, it also noted that average net cement sales price at its joint venture declined year-on-year due to the shift from oil well cement to construction-grade cement over the past year. Overall cement sales volumes remained static at 2.23Mt in the first half of 2016.
Holcim US Hagerstown cement plant celebrates US$96m upgrade 26 October 2016
US: Holcim US has officially completed its US$96m upgrade project to its Hagerstown cement plant in Maryland. The two-year modernisation project has helped the plant to adhere to NESHAP environmental rules and has increased production capacity at the site by 0.2Mt/yr.
"A cornerstone of the regional community for 113 years, we recognise the importance of this facility to the Hagerstown community," said John Stull, chief executive officer of US cement operations for LafargeHolcim. "Our investment to modernise clinker production represents our continued commitment to our customers and local manufacturing. The facility will continue to be a strong and reliable partner to the community for many more years to come."
The upgrades to the plant should deliver a more than a 60% reduction to nitrogen oxides (NOx), approximately a 50% reduction to sulfur dioxide (SO2) and more than a 75% reduction to Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from the plant.
Belgium: HeidelbergCement has completed the sale of its operations in Belgium, primarily consisting of Italcementi’s subsidiary Compagnie des Ciments Belges (CCB) to an affiliate of Cementir Holding. The European Commission has approved the agreement.
“With the disposal of the Belgium assets we fulfill the obligation of the European Commission and improve the net financial position of HeidelbergCement after the acquisition of Italcementi,” said Bernd Scheifele, CEO of HeidelbergCement.
HeidelbergCement and Cementir Holding announced the sale on 25 July 2016. The transaction has an enterprise value of Euro312m on a cash and debt-free basis.