Global Cement News
Search Cement News
Iraq: Lafarge Iraq has launched a new version of Karasta, its multipurpose cement. In order to meet customer expectations and needs the formula of Karasta was revised to iprove its workability, decrease cracking and improve setting time and adhesion properties.
Karasta's new formula meets the Iraq specification 3868 and the international standards EN 197-1:2011 CEM II/A-L 42.5 R, which is similar to Lafarge products in other countries. Karasta is produced at Lafarge's Bazian and Tasluja plants located near Slemani, Kurdistan Region. It has launched in Erbil and is being sold initially in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
India: India Cements plans to revamp and increase the production capacity of its cement plant in Tamil Nadu with an investment of US$13.3m.
The cement plant will be upgraded, including a new line and optimisation of the existing kiln, increasing capacity to about 1.70Mt/yr from the present 0.6Mt/yr. India Cements is currently seeking environmental clearance and, once this is in place, the project will commence. The total power requirement for the increased capacity will be about 28MW, including about 13MW for the new line.
Spain/Mexico/Argentina: Cementos Molins plans to build its international presence outside of Spain with expansions planned for Mexico and Argentina. The company hopes to generate just 20% of revenues in Spain in 2017. The company reported a profit of Euro6.5m for the first quarter of 2014.
The Spain-based cement producer intends to invest in a Euro147m cement plant project in Veracruz, Mexico in 2015 – 2016 shared with Buzzi Unicem and Mexican company Carso. Cementos Molins also plans to upgrade its existing cement plant in San Luis, Argentina. Other projects include two cement plants at unspecified locations.
Indonesia: Siemens has received an order from ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG to supply an Integrated Drive System for the expansion of PT Holcim Indonesia's cement plant in Java, Indonesia. The new line will have a capacity of 4000/day. Operation is due to commence in mid-2015.
The supplied Integrated Drive System will comprise low- and medium-voltage motors as well as the associated Sinamics and Sinamics Perfect Harmony drives, including the required converter transformers, starters and compensation systems. The supply package contains 14 single-motor and multi-motor drives, 22 induction motors, one slip ring motor for the raw mill main drive and six gear units.
Siemens previously installed complete drive equipment for the first production line at the Tuban plant. Production commenced in October 2013. "By placing the follow-on contract with Siemens, we want to ensure professional project management and the smooth operation of our plant", said Sidik Darusulistyo, plant manager at PT Holcim Indonesia.
Holcim jobs lost in New Zealand/Australia merger 24 June 2014
New Zealand: Holcim New Zealand has revealed that a company shake-up will result in four management jobs in Christchurch being axed in the next few months. In addition, the wind-down of the Westport cement plant in 2016 has been confirmed, which will result in the loss of about 120 jobs. It is also considering selling part or all of its lime business.
Holcim New Zealand's managing director, Jeremy Smith, will be made redundant, with Holcim announcing that it will combine its New Zealand and Australian operations. Three other management jobs will also be axed, although the head office in Christchurch will remain open.
"Other than the four senior roles announced as being dis-established in 2015, no other changes are planned in the near future," said Smith. Commenting on the status of other staff numbers once all the plans come into play, Smith said, "That is not known and it is too early to even discuss. The changes to the business model will eventually reduce the scale and scope of the New Zealand business over the coming years and it will require a smaller corporate management operation after 2016." Holcim currently employs 420 staff in New Zealand.
Holcim announced in 2013 that it was halting cement manufacturing in New Zealand and replacing it with bulk importing of cement for the New Zealand market. As such, Holcim has gained final approvals for construction to begin on its two new import cement terminals at Timaru and Auckland. Planning work is already underway on the Timaru project, where two 30,000t cement terminals are to be built. The terminals are part of Holcim's US100m investment in its New Zealand operations.