Global Cement News
Search Cement News
Romania: Holcim Romania, part of LafargeHolcim, has initiated a national road safety programme to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate driving behaviour across the supply chain.
The three-year programme consists of series of valuable projects mainly aimed at reducing the number of human casualties and the number of critical incidents on the roads in Romania.
At global level, every year, road accidents kill over 1.3 million people and injure 20 - 25 million people, with injuries caused by traffic accidents being the main death cause among people between 15 and 29.
The national road safety programme launched by Holcim in Romania will comprise four main action directions, which will take place simultaneously and in which the company has invested over Euro100,000:
1. An education and involvement programme in the local communities;
2. A programme for raising awareness and training the companies providing transport services to Holcim Romania;
3. A series of focus groups for professional drivers;
4. An integrated journey management programme.
As part of the project dedicated to local communities, Holcim Romania introduced the educational project 'Safe Road – the ABC of the road' in 12 schools from four counties (Arges, Bihor, Cluj and Dambovita). The project is based on the road education curriculum developed in 2015 by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and helps pupils from the primary level to understand the traffic rules and how they can prevent road accidents.
The team in charge of managing the fleet providing transport services to Holcim Romania will also communicate directly on the importance of road safety, through a training programme that sets to align the road safety standards between Holcim Romania and the partner transport companies, starting from the statistics concerning the road incidents provided by the World Health Organisation.
The third project included in the road safety programme consists in focus groups with 550 professional drivers (employees of the companies that provide transport services for Holcim Romania), in order to encourage their involvement in raising awareness on the importance of road safety. The conclusions will be further processed by Holcim Health and Safety team and will be implemented in the fleet companies.
Through the fourth direction of action of the road safety programme, Holcim Romania aims to implement, in a sustainable manner, several viable measurement tools, which allow for an efficient management and for the diminution of road accidents which can occur in our supply chain.
"Holcim Romania permanently seeks to improve and develop the Health and Safety standards and culture among its employees. This supports our 'Zero harm' vision in all processes and activities. One of our major concerns is to comply with the traffic rules and we wish to contribute with this road safety programme to decreasing the number of fatal and critical accidents. We can do this only by changing the drivers' mentality and raising their awareness with regard to the traffic risks," said François Petry, CEO of Holcim Romania.
Turkmenistan produces over 3Mt of cement 30 November 2015
Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan has produced around 3.3Mt of cement since early 2015, in part due to the completion of a 1.4Mt/yr plant was put into operation by Turkish Polimeks in Lebap. The plant produces portland cement, oil well cement and sulphate-resistant cement used in hydraulic units. Polimeks also put into operation a similar plant in Balkan.
Anhui Conch to double West China Cement stake in consolidation 30 November 2015
China: Anhui Conch has agreed to more than double its stake in smaller rival West China Cement for US$592m amid consolidation in an industry suffering from overcapacity.
Conch International Holdings (HK) Ltd, a wholly owned unit of Anhui Conch, plans to increase its holding in Shaanxi-based West China to 51.57% from the current 21.17%. If the transaction goes through, Anhui Conch will make a mandatory cash offer for all of the shares of West China that it doesn't already own.
West China agreed to buy four units of Anhui Conch and will issue shares in itself to pay for the purchase. West China will issue 3.403 billion shares at US$0.17 each for a total of US$592m. The issuance will raise Anhui Conch's stake in West China. Should Anhui Conch be required to make an offer for the rest of West China, it will pay US$0.22 in cash for each share.
Ash Grove Cement donates US$20,000 to Nebraska conservatory 27 November 2015
US: Ash Grove Cement has donated US$20,000 to a Nebraska conservatory to help fund a workshop and laboratory and support conservation efforts.
"Ash Grove Cement is delighted to support The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska and its important project, Niobrara Valley Preserve," said the Plant Manager of Ash Grove Cement in Louisville, John Dale. "We believe that conservation is vital to the future of the state, which is why we've contributed to The Nature Conservancy throughout the Plains states for the past 20 years."
The donation will go building a new workshop and laboratory for a research facility as well as conservation and ranching support. At 60,000 acres, the Niobrara Valley Preserve is one of the largest and most visited preserves in the US. Donations like the one from Ash Grove Cement help to keep the conservatory open for research and teaching purposes.
"The Nature Conservancy is grateful for the support of the Ash Grove Charitable Foundation to help build a new workshop / laboratory at our Niobrara Valley Preserve," said Conservation Director Mace Hack. "This is a part of a comprehensive plan to transform this special place into the world-class home for teaching and learning that today's conservation challenges demand."
India: UltraTech Cement is reportedly in advanced discussions with Reliance Infrastructure on the sale of its cement units.
Reliance Infrastructure put up its cement units for sale in October 2015 to reduce its US$3.86bn debt. The company earned a revenue of US$56.7m from its 5.5Mt/yr of operational capacity in July - September 2015. Reliance Infrastructure's cement units are expected to fetch an enterprise valuation of US$749 - 824m.