Indonesia: Culture minister Fadli Zon has proposed converting the former Indarung I cement plant in Padang, West Sumatra, into an educational and cultural space. The plant was run by state-owned cement producer PT Semen Padang for nearly 90 years until 1999. The plant’s archives from 1910-1972 were registered with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific in 2024. The Indonesian government has also designated several buildings at the site as national cultural heritage.

Zon said “This site can be utilised as an amphitheatre to hold exhibitions and theatrical performances. Having been recognised as a cultural heritage site, this place can be reactivated as an art space for artistic and cultural expressions.”

Türkiye: KHD will install a Pyrorotor alternative fuel system at the Batisöke Söke Çimento Sanayii cement plant in Söke. The project began in February 2026 and includes supply of the Pyrorotor unit, spare parts and supervision of erection and commissioning.

KHD CEO Matthias Jochem said “This order confirms the growing momentum for decarbonising cement production in the important Turkish market. We are delighted to be working with Batisöke Söke Çimento Sanayii on this project. The company’s investment is a clear statement of its commitment to increasing the use of alternative fuels and reducing its carbon footprint. We look forward to supporting them on that journey.”

KHD said that the Pyrorotor technology enables plants to use low-quality locally available fuels with no preprocessing, including plastics, biomass and tyre chips. The company has sold 21 Pyrorotor installations worldwide, including in Cambodia, China, Portugal, South Korea, Thailand and Türkiye.

Jochem said “This latest order reinforces our commitment to Türkiye’s cement sector at a time when the industry faces increasing pressure to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve fuel flexibility. The Pyrorotor is proven to deliver on exactly these challenges, and we look forward to demonstrating that once again in Söke.”

US: Amrize reports that it increased revenues to US$11.8bn and delivered US$1.2bn of net income and US$3.0bn of adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). It said that demand grew for cement and aggregates in 2025 and that data centre construction continues to be a ‘bright spot’ for the company. It expects further growth in 2026 as customers accelerate investments in manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. However, it said that the residential market remained ‘soft’ in 2025, with interest rate and affordability concerns limiting construction activity.

In 2025, it invested US$788m in capital expenditure and plans to increase this figure to US$900m in 2026. Amrize is expanding production capacity at its Midlothian, Exshaw and St. Constant cement plants across the US and Canada.

Syria: 12 companies have applied to invest in the Al-Muslimiyah cement plant in Aleppo and the Adra cement plant in Damascus, according to the General Company for Cement and Building Materials Industry and Marketing (OMRAN). Director Mahmoud Fadila said that applications are being evaluated on technical and financial criteria to select investors and support the cement sector ahead of reconstruction.

Rehabilitation work is reportedly progressing on the mills at the Tartous Cement plant, carried out by UAE-based QBZ Group, alongside work to rehabilitate and operate the third production line at the Hama cement plant by Iraq-based Vertex Group, with the aim of increasing production capacity. The company said offering the plants for investment forms part of a broader plan to strengthen industrial infrastructure, increase production efficiency and comply with safety and environmental standards.