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China orders some north-east cement plants to shut in winter 01 December 2014
China: China has ordered several cement plants located in the northern provinces to shut for four months, starting on 1 December 2014, to reduce over-capacity and curb air pollution during the winter months, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The move, which will affect 103 production lines in the three Provinces of Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin, is set to hit coal consumption and limit a rebound in domestic prices.
The China Cement Association and the three provincial governments jointly issued the order. Persistent over-capacity has dogged the sector for years, with northern China using only about half of its total production capacity.
The northern provinces, including Hebei, are a major source of industrial pollutants blamed for a toxic smog that often spreads to neighbouring regions like Beijing. Kong Xiangzhong, vice president of the China Cement Association, was quoted as saying the winter stoppage would greatly curb air pollution, as fuel consumption increases markedly when temperatures drop. Total cement output in northern China, including Inner Mongolia, hovers around 120Mt in the winter months and requires about 20Mt of coal. Fuel consumption falls to just 16Mt in summer, according to Xiangzhong.
The suspension in Xinjiang is expected to reduce coal consumption by about 1Mt and help increase plant utilisation rates to 75%, from the current 60%, according to local media reports. It takes about 200kg of coal to produce 1t of cement, according to the World Coal Association.
Despite efforts to cut output, China's cement production rose 9.6% to 2.41Bnt in 2013 from a year earlier, while total capacity has surged to more than 3.2Bnt/yr, according to data from the cement association.
China Gezhouba and Zhongxia Cement set up US$190m joint venture 28 November 2014
China: Gezhouba Group Cement, a subsidiary of China Gezhouba Group, has signed an agreement with Hubei Zhongxia Cement to set up a joint venture to restructure the assets and businesses of Zhongxia Cement.
The joint venture, with a registered capital of US$190m, will be engaged in production and sales of cement, clinker and fine slag powder and opencast mining of limestone for cement uses. Gezhouba Cement will hold 51% of the venture and Zhongxia Cement will hold the remaining 49%. The venture will acquire the entire current assets of inventories for cement production and operation of Zhongxia Cement after establishment.
Security issues hit Eastern Cement production in Yemen 28 November 2014
Yemen: Eastern Cement had its fuel and raw materials supply for clinker production interrupted due to escalating security and political turmoil. The supply problems have been solved and clinker production processes have returned to normal, the Saudi Arabian cement producer confirmed.
The sale of cement by Arabian Yemen Cement Company, in which Eastern Cement controls a stake of 32%, has continued without disruption as the company has sufficient reserves of clinker. Arabian Yemen Cement Company, based in Hadhramaut province, was founded in 2004. The company's cement factory with production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr is the largest Saudi investment in Yemen.
Titan Cement orders Gebr. Pfeiffer coal mill for Beni Suef plant 28 November 2014
Egypt: Titan Cement has ordered a vertical roller mill of the type MPS 2800 BK from Gebr. Pfeiffer SE, to be set up in production line no. 1 at its Beni Suef plant. The mill is designed for a finished product rate of 40t/hr and will grind coal with a Hardgrove grindability index of 45 to a product fineness of 12% residue 90µm, while simultaneously drying it from a maximum 12% feed moisture to a maximum 1% residual moisture by using hot gases from the cement process.
Tanzania cement output set to rise to 6Mt/yr 27 November 2014
Tanzania: Tanzania expects to double its cement production to 6Mt/yr in the next few years as new plants are commissioned to meet demand from the construction sector, according to comments made in parliament by Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Janet Mbene. Tanzania's cement output rose by 18.9% in 2013 to slightly above 3Mt due to higher demand. Mbene said the rise in output would mean Tanzania would produce a surplus to be exported.
Cement producers currently operating in the country include Tanzania Portland Cement - a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement, Tanga Cement – a subsidiary of Afrisam Mauritius Investment Holdings and Mbeya Cement – a subsidiary of Lafarge. Lake Cement and Lee Cement Factory are the two newest entrants in Tanzania's cement manufacturing and marketing sector with their core products under brand names of Nyati cement and Kilwa cement respectively. Dangote is also building a 3Mt/yr cement plant in Mtwara Region.