Global Cement News

Spain: Cementos El Molino plans to invest Euro3.7m in an upgrade to energy infrastructure at its 450,000t Santa Eulalia grinding plant in Aragon. Alimarket Construction News has reported that the upgrade consists of a 12MW substation and a 2.4MW solar power plant. Euro2m-worth (54%) of investments will go towards construction of the subsystem and Euro1.7m (46%) towards the solar power plant. Cementos El Molino expects to carry out the investments before the end of 2023.

Nigeria: Holcim subsidiary Lafarge Africa hosted industry professional and policy makers at an event dedicated to advancing understanding of renewable energy on 8 July 2023. The Business and Financial Times newspaper has reported that the event included a panel session entitled 'The Business of Clean Energy: Opportunities for Industries.'

Lafarge Africa chair Prince Adebode Adefioye said "It is about stimulating every part of our economy, creating incentives for investors in clean energy and for people and businesses to embrace the use of clean energy products and technologies. It allows Nigeria not only to boost its energy supply and create new high-value jobs, but also to be at the forefront of reducing carbon emissions and saving our planet. Therefore, the whole idea is to bring people together to be able to stimulate ideas, even the banks and broader financial sector, to involve them in creating innovative tech and financial products that allow us to generate and use energy more effectively and productively.”

CEO Khaled El Dokani added “Fighting climate change and making the transition towards a greener economy requires a concerted effort by industries, individuals and the government. As a leader in innovation, Lafarge will continue to collaborate with stakeholders and we expect that the discussions by a range of industry experts and public officials here present today will provide a clear view of the business of clean energy and reveal the opportunities, insights and strategic agendas for leaders in the private and public sectors to accelerate our society’s access to clean energy.”

Pakistan: Dandot Cement says that its on-going upgrade to its Lahore cement plant reached 60% completion during the fourth quarter of the 2023 financial year, which ended on 30 June 2023. The project remains scheduled for completion in July 2023. Pakistan Company News has reported that the producer has taken delivery of new equipment, completed civil construction work, handed over the site to its engineering contractor, completed 75% of mechanical erection and conducted some tests. The producer awarded a new contract for installation of remaining portions of its control systems to an Uzbekistan-based contractor. Complete sections of the project include the plant's captive solar power plant.

Dandot Cement has made total investments worth US$12.3m in the project.

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement (formerly Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe) commissioned a new vertical roller mill at its Manresa cement plant on 6 July 2023. The Chronicle newspaper has reported that the project constituted Phase 2 of Khayah Cement's expansion to the plant.

Kyrgyzstan: Kant Cement has successfully transitioned Grinding Unit 8 of its Kant cement plant to closed cycle grinding operations. Business World News has reported that China-based CNBM Beijing Triumph carried out the work. The transition has increased the unit's production capacity by 30 - 40%.

Kant Cement's general director Pavel Dekhtyarev said "The mill previously produced 40t/hr of CEM II cement and 30t/hr of CEM I cement. Now it produces 58t/hr and 50t/hr, respectively. With this productivity, it was possible to reduce the specific energy consumption by 30% and reduce dust emissions. In addition, closed circuit grinding allows us to produce high grades of cement that could not be obtained with open circuit grinding systems."