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Cemex assesses impact of mining ban in Philippines 25 September 2018
Philippines: Cemex Holdings Philippines (CHP) is running an assessment to see how a local government order to stop mining operations in Naga will affect its business. APO Land & Quarry has been requested to stop quarrying operations in Naga City, Cebu following landslides, according to the Philippine Star newspaper. APO Land & Quarry supplies raw materials to CHP’s subsidiary Apo Cement, and it is indirectly 40% owned by Mexico’s Cemex.
Adelaide Brighton in legal case over missing millions 25 September 2018
Australia: Adelaide Brighton is seeking damages from a former credit manager over US$9m in missing funds. The cement producer has accused former employee Glenda Ivy Burgess of the embezzlement following an internal audit, according to the Advertiser newspaper. Burgess worked for Adelaide Brighton for 18 years but was dismissed in February 2018.
The allegations include misallocating customer payments, falsifying accounts, increasing customer credit limits without authority and providing false information.
The construction company launched a civil lawsuit against Burgess at the same time that a police investigation was ongoing. This has subsequently led to a clash between civil and criminal proceedings as the accused successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to delay the civil case whilst the criminal investigation continues.
Flying Cement orders mill from Loesche 25 September 2018
Pakistan: The Flying Cement Company has ordered a vertical roller mill from Germany’s Loesche for a new 7000t/day production line in Lahore. The raw material mill will be used at Flying Cement’s plant at Mangowal, where it will grind 600t/hr. The plant is mainly used to produce Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
Along with the mill, the scope of supply also includes a Hurriclon system from A TEC, a member of the Loesche Group, for separating finished material from the gas flow leaving the mill.
Commissioning is expected to take place at the end of 2018.
ARM Cement looking for buyer of Kigali Cement plant 24 September 2018
Rwanda: Kenya’s ARM Cement is set to auction off its Kigali Cement plant in Nyarugenge District for a second time, following a first attempt. The company forced a legal postponement to the first auction when offers for the unit failed to reach a level it deemed acceptable, according to the New Times newspaper. The only bid it received was for US$113,000 a figure significantly short of the estimate US$1.4m market value of the plant. Kigali Cement operates a 0.1Mt/yr plant.
Kigali Cement plant is being sold in order to pay its creditor, Rwanda Enterprise Investment Company (REIC) in a long running dispute between the companies. ARM Cement owns Kigali Cement but REIC has held shares in it since 2008. ARM Cement acquired a stake in Kigali Cement in 2010 and later took over the management of the company in 2014. Meanwhile, ARM Cement entered administration at home in Kenya in late August 2018.
Indian cement producers complain about Pakistani imports 24 September 2018
India: Shailendra Chouksey, president of the Cement Manufacturers Association, has complained about imports of cement from Pakistan damaging the local industry. He told the Indo-Asian News Service that cement from Pakistan was up to 15% cheaper than Indian cement. There has been no customs duty on cement imports from Pakistan since 2007, making it competitive in comparison to local production, especially in states that neighbour Pakistan. By comparison, imports of cement to Pakistan face a duty of 11%.
Data from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade shows that 1.68Mt of cement was imported into India during the 2017 – 2018 financial year that ended in March 2018. 1.27Mt or 76% of this total was imported from Pakistan.
Indian producers have also complained about the high rate of the local Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the country. They are hoping to reduce the rate to 18% from 28% at present.