Mauritania: The National Confederation of Mauritanian Workers has called a seven-day strike of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF) employees from 31 May to 6 June 2023. IHS Global Insight Daily News has reported that the union called the strike over working conditions at the company and to demand that it elect workers’ representatives. The strike will likely result in cement supply disruptions and backlogs at export terminals.

Italy: Italcementi, part of Heidelberg Materials, has filed a patent application for a titanium dioxide-based cementitious material. The Patent Office Journal has reported that the material consists of titanium dioxide (TiO2) imbued with carbon dopants. This is produced by irradiating the TiO2 in the presence of an inert gas and an organic compound.

Switzerland: Holcim has announced its participation in the Science Based Targets Network's Science Based Targets for Nature pilot. Under the initaitive, Holcim will submit targets for the conservation of land and freshwater ecosystems for validation later in 2023.

Holcim's chief sustainability and innovation officer Magali Anderson said "Setting science-based targets for nature is key to making a real and measurable impact to preserve and restore biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems. As part of this initiative, we aim to bring our climate and nature action closer together."

Indonesia: Norway-based Norges Bank has placed Semen Tonasa under observation for risk of damage to art in Leang Leang Maros Prehistoric Park in South Sulawesi. Reuters has reported that the cement producer has no monitoring system in place for its limestone mining operations near to the designated UNESCO Global Geopark. Vibrations and dust reportedly present a danger to the 44,000yr-old works of art at the site. Norges Bank holds a 1.6% stake in Semen Tonasa's parent company Semen Indonesia.

Norges Bank said "The background for the decision is the unacceptable risk of damage to prehistoric and irreplaceable culture heritage."

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