Global Cement News

UK: Global building materials supplier Cemex UK has launched its Buildings Made Better range of renovation and refurbishment products and services. The company says that the range offers customers easy access to low carbon, energy efficient or water-conserving building solutions. It includes a wide selection of existing and new products including its Vertua low carbon concrete. The producer said that the solutions support the construction phase and the whole lifecycle of the building.

Cemex Materials West Europe quality and product technology director Steve Crompton said “The renovation of existing buildings can lead to significant energy savings for all, as buildings account for over 40% of energy consumed. More than 220m buildings in Europe, representing approximately 85% of the building stock built before 2021, will mostly still be standing in 2050, yet currently only 1% of buildings undergo energy-efficient renovation each year. The energy performance of buildings is a major area for improvement in public policies, for new build and the renovation of the existing stock. From residential housing, to public buildings and urban schemes, across the board, we’re demonstrating to our customers that by improving the built environment, we can significantly improve our natural environment too.”

He added “Concrete has a critical role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. We have the aspiration to deliver net zero CO₂ concrete globally by 2050, which will contribute to the development of climate-smart urban projects, sustainable buildings and climate resilient infrastructures. By bringing together a comprehensive range of sustainable products that support the important area of retrofit, we are offering our customers easy access to the right products for the job whilst keeping the environment front of mind.”

Kazakhstan: Korcem, a joint venture of International Cement Korday and Nurzhan Shakirov, plans to invest US$150m in the upcoming 1.5Mt/yr Korday cement plant in Zhambyl region. The company has a mining licence for 11ha of land in Korday district. International Cement Korday, a subsidiary of Singapore-based International Cement Group, holds 88% of shares in the venture. The plant is scheduled for commissioning in mid-2023.

Chair Ma Zhaoyang said “With our accumulated capabilities and experience in the cement industry in Central Asia, as well as Nurzhan Shakirov’s extensive local expertise in Kazakhstan, we are confident that this joint venture will be another success.”

India: Dalmia Cement has begun cement production at the new 2.3Mt/yr Line 2 of it Kapilas cement plant near Cuttack in Odisha. The plant now commands a production capacity of 4.0Mt/yr.

India: Orient Cement has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Adani Power Maharashtra for the establishment of a grinding plant on land belonging to the latter. The power company will secure a licence to sublet its land to Orient Cement and for the producer to use railway sidings at the site. Orient Cement plans to begin work on the project before April 2022.

Taiwan: The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) awarding body has named Taiwan Cement Corporation among winners in the Green Leadership category at its 2021 event. The company won the award for its concrete product traceability system, which enables customers to access production details via QR code. The system achieved 100% traceability in 2020. Taiwan Cement Corporation is committed to carbon neutral cement production by 2050.