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Qatar: Qatar National Cement Company (QNCC) has signed a financing deal with Saudi Arabia’s Samba Financial Group (Samba) for US$100m. The facility, which has a two-year grace period, will go towards financing the construction of the company’s fifth cement plant and should be repaid in three and half years.
QNCC signed a letter of intent with Fives FCB in 2014 to build the 5000t/day clinker production line at a cost of US$261m. The plant was expected to become operational within 27 months, according to local media. The company decided to build its fifth cement plant in response to an expected increase in demand in the run up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar. In June 2016 QNCC also announced plans to close cement plant 1 with effect from the start of the month.
China: LafargeHolcim has signed a framework agreement with Tianjin Circle Enterprise Management Center (Tianjin Circle) to sell a controlling stake in Sichuan Shuangma Cement (Shuangma) for Euro469m. The multinational cement producer owns 55.93% of Shuangma. The sale is subject to approval from the shareholders of Shuangma and the completion of a mandatory offer for the shares of minority shareholders of Shuangma, as well as normal regulatory approval. The acquisition is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Under the terms of the agreement, Tianjin Circle has agreed an option to purchase the remaining shares in Shuangma from LafargeHolcim in 2018 for Euro147m. LafargeHolcim has also agreed an option to buy Shuangma’s cement assets, within a certain period after the sale closes, for around Euro358m. On this basis, the expected immediate impact on LafargeHolcim net debt of these agreements would have been a reduction of Euro112m.
Sichuan Shuangma is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and operates four integrated cement plants with a production capacity of 11Mt/yr.
Chzhungtsai Mohir Cement plant to open in Tajikistan 01 August 2016
Tajikistan: The Government of Tajikistan and the Chzhungtsai Mohir Cement company are set to open a 1.2Mt/yr cement plant in Yovon district, Khatlon province in August 2016 according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies. The plant has an investment of US$120m and it will create 500 jobs, according to Asia-Plus news agency. Construction originally started in 2014.
China Resources Cement starts production at Lianjiang plant 01 August 2016
China: China Resources Cement has started operation at its 6000t/day cement plant in Lianjiang, Guangdong. The integrated cement plant is aimed at markets in the west of Guangdong and the southeast of Guangxi. The company has completed the construction of all of its planned production lines in Guangdong. Its total clinker and cement production capacities in Guangdong are 14.4Mt/yr and 22.5Mt/yr respectively.
Cementir buys Sacci cement business for Euro125m 01 August 2016
Italy: Cementir Holding’s subsidiary Cementir Italia has acquired Sacci’s cement and ready-mixed concrete business division for Euro125m. The acquisition has been made by Cementir Sacci, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cementir Italia. A payment of Euro122.5m was made on 29 July 2016. The remainder will be paid in July 2018. A financing contract has been signed with the related party ICAL 2 to finance the acquisition.
Cementir Holding group will operate in Italy through two companies: Cementir Italia and Cementir Sacci, approximately doubling its production capacity, commercial strength and distribution network. The industrial footprint has grown, with the addition of five cement production plants, three distribution terminals and 28 ready-mixed concrete plants. In Italy, total installed capacity will be 6.8Mt/yr and the company’s presence will increase from six to 11 of the country’s regions.