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QPMC cement terminal to be operational in 2015 25 March 2015
Qatar: The upcoming cement storage and conveying terminal being developed by Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) in Mesaieed will be completed by the end of 2015, according to a senior official of a consultancy associated with the project.
The facility has been designed to discharge 1.8Mt/yr of cement into the 12 silos with a total storage capacity of 60,000m3. Once operational, the plant will be able to load 1000t/hr of cement in trucks, which will significantly reduce the truck loading time to about 90 seconds per truck.
"Once completed, the facility will help Qatar to import and store more cement than what it is able to do today. In case the local producers have a surplus output, in future, they can also use the storage facility, which will maintain the quality of cement intact for a longer period of time," said Marc Stordiau, managing director of 'Rent A Port', a Belgium-based engineering consultant specialising in port designing and logistics operations. "Although the temrinal has been designed for cement, it can also be used to store gypsum and clinker after minimal modification," added Stordiau.
According to Stordiau, the terminal will also improve the cost efficiency and handling capacity of the port significantly as the latest technology will help unload a vessel with 60,000m3 of cement within a day, instead of 10 - 15 days without the conveyor belts and silos facilities. The high rate of discharge capacity from ships will also reduce ship waiting times. The cement terminal is also equipped with smaller silos, which have been designed to load up to four trucks simultaneously, taking the total loading capacity to 40 trucks per hour or 20,000t/day.
Turkey: Loesche has delivered and is currently installing a LM 45.4 raw meal mill ordered by Vicat Service Technique Ciment for Bastas Baskent Çimento in Elmadag in May 2014.
The Loesche LM 45.4 vertical roller mill will grind 260t/hr cement raw meal at a product fineness of 16% R90μm. The installed drive power is 2100kW. Loesche's scope of supply includes weigh feeders, apron feeders, magnetic separators, metal detectors, shut-off and control flaps, vibrating conveyors, a bucket elevator and expansion joints. The commissioning of the new mill is scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.
Renewable energy strides ahead of fossil fuels, but how far can it go?
Written by Amy Saunders, Global Cement
25 March 2015
This week Beijing announced that it would close the last of its four largest coal-fired power plants, the China Huaneng Group Corp's 845MW power plant, in 2016. The four coal-fired plants will be replaced by four gas-fired plants with 2.6 times more electricity capacity than the former coal plants. China's policy makers are also encouraging increased use of hydroelectric power, solar and wind and is trying to restart its nuclear power programme.
In the same week, the Independent reported that Costa Rica had achieved a renewable energy milestone, having used 100% renewable energy for the preceding 75 days. The achievement was reportedly made possible by heavy rainfall, which powered four hydroelectric plants. Costa Rica has an impressive track record when it comes to energy sources. In 2014, 80% of its energy came from hydropower and 10% came from geothermal energy. In total, 94% of its energy requirements were met by renewable energy.
However, this week we also heard that Dangote is building the world's biggest oil refinery, which will process 650,000b/day. It will also be Nigeria's first oil refinery. Aliko Dangote, owner of Dangote Group, decided to up the initial design from 450,000b/day because he believes that Nigeria, as a leading producer of crude oil, should also be credited with local refining capacity. Currently, Nigeria produces crude oil, but has to buy refined products from abroad. The refinery is expected to be fully operational by 2017.
Efforts to increase renewable energy should be strongly encouraged - the benefits to the planet and its population are undeniable. However, renewable energy technology has a way to go (if ever) before it can entirely replace fossil fuel-derived energy, which makes Dangote's investment a safe bet. As renewable energy like solar and wind power is entirely reliant on nature, supplies can never be assured.
While sporadic supplies to houses and small businesses may be part of the price we eventually have to pay for a greener world, larger businesses like supermarkets and cement plants, which could lose millions (or billions) from power outages, will surely have something to say, and a lot of sway, when it comes to relying completely on renewable energy. In addition, power outages to essential services like hospitals are unthinkable when it comes to the health of our loved ones. Ultimately, the argument for relying on renewable energy may well be won by utilitarians' 'greater good' argument, but how would it feel to know that your sick child could have been saved by fossil fuel-derived energy?
Lafarge identifies two potential chief executive candidates for LafargeHolcim
Written by Global Cement staff
24 March 2015
Europe: Lafarge has identified two potential chief executive candidates for LafargeHolcim, according to local media. Lafarge chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Gauthier and vice president Eric Olsen have both been named. The companies need to find a new chief executive after Holcim demanded a change to the initial agreement that would have installed Lafarge chief Bruno Lafont as head of LafargeHolcim.
Ohorongo donates US$84,450 of cement to government 24 March 2015
Namibia: Ohorongo Cement has donated US$84,450 of cement to the Namibian government. One truckload of cement will be donated to each of the country's 14 regions for the silver jubilee independence celebrations and the general development of Namibia.
According to the permanent secretary in the office of the prime minister and chairperson of the Independence Committee, Nangula Mbako, the cement will be handed to the governor of each region. The governors will be tasked in-house to identify a project within the region that they would like to use the cement for.
"The timing of this donation is perfect and the government is grateful to Ohorongo Cement for their contribution towards the development of Namibia and its people. It is a lot of cement," said Mbako.
"We want to make a difference and support our government to leave a lasting legacy for all Namibians," said Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, managing director of Ohorongo Cement. Besides the latest donation, Ohorongo Cement has invested US$548,928 as corporate social investment already since it began production, according to Schütte.