India: Nuvoco Vistas’ sales rose by 14% year-on-year during the 2023 financial year, to US$1.29bn. The group’s cement sales volumes were 18.8Mt, up by 5%. It recorded a profit after tax of US$1.95bn.

In 2023, Nuvoco Vistas achieved a cement alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate of 12%. Its emphasis on developing blended cements enabled it to achieve an industry-leading cement to clinker factor of 55%. It operations during the year relied on over 20% renewable energy.

Iraq: Pakistan-based Attock Cement has scheduled an extraordinary general meeting in late May 2023 to approve the sale of a cement grinding plant at Khor Al-Zubair in Basra for around US$23m. It is preparing to sell a 60% share in the unit to a joint venture comprising Abdul Lateef Mohsin Al Geetan, an Iraqi national, and Lamassu Babylon General Trading Company, an organisation based in Dubai, UAE.

India: Jaiprakash Associates has defaulted on loans worth US$482m, which were due for repayment on 30 April 2023. The producer has total borrowings of US$3.57bn, repayable by 2037. It informed the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) that the outstanding debt is subject to on-going restructuring, but will reduce by US$2.21bn upon transfer of property belonging to Jaiprakash Associates to a shareholder-approved special purpose vehicle (SPV).

Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has opened a bag manufacturing unit at its Ewekoro cement plant in Ogun State. It has a bag production capacity of 105m/yr. The company says it is the first of its kind in the country. It is intended to increase the availability of bags through large-scale production locally. The project is a joint-venture run with MDV Industries.

Khaled El Dokani, the country chief executive officer for Lafarge Africa, said “We are using the best technology that produces the most efficient and durable bag in Nigeria. It is a very great day for us at Lafarge Africa.”