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Sephaku Cement set to produce clinker at Aganang plant 20 August 2014
South Africa: Sephaku Cement, an associate of Sephaku Holdings, has completed the commissioning of the Aganang clinker plant in Lichtenburg, North West Province and is ready to commence production. Lelau Mohuba, the chief executive of Sephaku Holdings, said that the first consignment of clinker would be delivered to Sephaku Holdings' Delmas grinding plant by the end of August 2014. The Aganang plant also has a cement production capacity of 1.1Mt/yr.
Commercial production at the Delmas grinding plant commenced in January 2014 following a successful commissioning phase. Once it is operating at full capacity, it will be capable of producing 1.4Mt/yr of cement. About US$312m has been invested in establishing these new cement plants, which will have a total annual capacity of 2.2Mt/yr once they are fully operational.
Sephaku Holdings has a 36% stake in Sephaku Cement, with the remaining 64% owned by Dangote Cement. Mohuba said that the production of its own clinker was an important step for Sephaku Cement in enabling it to become a fully-integrated producer of cement. Mohuba said that Sephaku Cement had to date been purchasing clinker to grind at Delmas, where the company had achieved more than 60% capacity utilisation. He said this had enabled Sephaku Cement to enter the market while strengthening its sales function in preparation for increasing volumes.
FLSmidth selected for Ada plant modernisation 20 August 2014
US: FLSmidth has been selected to supply the major equipment for the modernisation of the Holcim (US) Ada plant in Oklahoma. The modernisation of the pyro process is expected to deliver lower emissions of nearly all air pollutants while anticipating an increase in the plant's production capacity.
The contract includes a dryer crusher, a single stage preheater with an ILC-calciner, a dedusting cyclone, a ROTAX-2® kiln, a kiln bypass system, a Duoflex® kiln burner and an FLSmidth® Cross-Bar® cooler. With the installation of two new FLSmidth dust collectors, the project will significantly improve the plant's ability to reduce emissions of particulate matter.
The parties have decided not to disclose the value of the contract.
Iranian cement exports rise significantly 20 August 2014
Iran: Iran exported approximately 6.62Mt of cement and clinker in the first four months of the current Iranian year, a period that encompasses the period from 21 March 2014 to 22 July 2014. The Iranian Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade added that the country's cement and clinker exports rose by over 378% in the 12 months to 20 March 2014 compared to the 12 months to 20 March 2013.
Vicem cement output rises 4.7% in year to date 20 August 2014
Vietnam: State-owned Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem) produced 10.2Mt of cement in the first seven months of 2014, a 4.7% increase compared to the same period of 2013. Vicem's clinker output, however, dipped by 1% year-on-year to 9.43Mt. In July 2014, Vicem's cement output rose by 7.8% year-on-year to 1.54Mt, while clinker output rose to 1.47Mt, a 8.1% rise.
In the first seven months of 2014, Vicem's total clinker and cement sales rose by 7% year-on-year to 12.7Mt, including 1.88Mt in July 2014, a 3.9% fall year-on-year. Of the total, 10.6Mt of cement and clinker were sold in Vietnam, down by 7.7% year-on-year. 2.12Mt were exported, an 86% rise year-on-year.
Shiva Cement gets nod for 200,000t/yr capacity expansion 20 August 2014
India: Shiva Cement has received approval for an Interim Business Plan for a 200,000Mt/yr capacity expansion as proposed by the Project Management Committee (PMC). Shiva Cement's board of directors has also approved the project. Besides, the PMC has been authorised to take decisions for leasing, sale, disposal, or to deal with the idle fixed assets in the best interest of the Shiva Cement.