Global Cement News
Search Cement News
Semen Padang to build cement packing plant at Bengkulu 30 October 2013
Indonesia: Semen Padang is preparing to build a new cement packing plant costing US$0.92m near Pulau Baai port in Bengkulu, said marketing director Benny Wendry.
"We have already earmarked US$0.92m to build a packing factory for Semen Padang near the Pualu Baai port in Bengkulu in 2014," said Wendry. However the project is still awaiting approval from the board of directors. Wendry added that the state-owned cement producer intends to start in early 2014 with completion scheduled for 2015. Once operational the plant will produce 300,000 sacks of cement per year.
Semen Padang is also building a 3Mt/yr cement plant in West Sumatra that is scheduled for operation by 2016. The new plant will increase the company's cement production capacity to 10Mt/yr.
Saudi Arabia: Hail Cement Company has announced that a scheduled shutdown for its production line for kiln and raw mill maintenance will run from 26 October 2013 to 11 November 2013. The cement mills and packing plant will remain operational throughout this period. The financial impact this shutdown will be reflected in the income statement for the fourth quarter of 2013. The company's commitments to its customers are not expected to be effected.
Viettel acquires 70% stake in Cam Pha Cement in US$127m deal 30 October 2013
Vietnam: Viettel Group, the leading telecom company in Vietnam operated by the Ministry of Defence, has signed an agreement with Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Vinaconex), to buy a 70% stake in Cam Pha Cement. Viettel also purchased Cam Pha Cement's debts guaranteed by VCG in a deal with a total value of US$127m. Viettel currently holds a 21.3% stake in Vinaconex.
With the share sale, Vinaconex will cut its holding in the loss-making cement plant to 30% and avoid further losses from the unit. Vinaconex has paid US$114m worth of debts owed by Cam Pha Cement. Following the deal Cam Pha will sell its cement to military-run construction companies.
Cam Pha Cement made an accumulated loss of US$75m in 2012. The cement plant based in Quang Ninh Province has a production capacity of 2.3Mt/yr.
Cemex reports sales up by 3% in third quarter of 2013 30 October 2013
Mexico: Cemex has reported that its net sales rose by 3% year-on-year to US$4bn during the third quarter of 2013. Operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 2% year-on-year to US$747. The Mexico-based multinational cement producer attributed the increase to increased prices and higher sales volumes in most regions.
"We continue to be focused on our company-wide efforts to improve our operating efficiencies and the value we generate from our asset base while delivering better value to our customers," said Fernando A González, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration.
By region, Cemex noted that net sales fell in Mexico by 11% year-on-year to US$776m from US$875m. This was blamed on low government infrastructure spending and bad weather. Sales growth was seen in all other regions, and most notably in the group's Northern Europe and Mediterranean regions that recorded 6% (up to US$1.17bn) and 9% (up to US$375m) growth respectively.
KHD receives COMFLEX® order from Batısöke 29 October 2013
Turkey: Batısöke Söke Çimento Sanayi T.A.Ş., part of the Bati Anadolu Group, has awarded KHD Humboldt Wedag a contract for engineering and delivery of equipment to increase its cement grinding capacity at its cement plant in western Turkey. The contract to install a new COMFLEX® grinding system will increase the capacity of cement grinding unit no 5, from 59t/hr to 195t/hr at 3300 Blaine and save more than 12kWh/t energy.
KHD´s scope includes the engineering and delivery of mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as advisory services during erection and commissioning for the new COMFLEX SC16-3250. This will be KHD's third COMFLEX grinding unit in Turkey after Denizli and Kahramanmaras Cimento.
The core equipment to be designed and delivered by KHD include: a clinker grinding system (COMFLEX® SC16-3250); a roller press RPS 16-170/180 with ROLCOX® system for control and monitoring; a V-separator, type VS 524, as static classifier; a high efficiency separator SEPMASTER, type SKS-VC 3250 as dynamic classifier; and a system fan HKF 200/265.
The commissioning of the new COMFLEX® system, in combination with the existing ball mill system, is planned for the end of 2014.