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East AfricanPortland Cement gains ISO certification 26 February 2018
Kenya: East Africa Portland Cement has gained re-certification for ISO 14001 on environmental management system, and OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety. Company official Simon Peter ole Nkeri said that the achievement was part of the company’s around strategy, according to the Business Daily newspaper. He added that the adoption of an environmental quality management system was a strategic decision to improve the company’s performance.
Leading PPC shareholder demands resignation of chairman Peter Nelson 23 February 2018
South Africa: Prudential Investment Managers, one of the largest shareholders of PPC, has demanded the resignation of the chairman Peter Nelson. The shareholder sent a formal request to the cement producer because it wants the company to improve its operations, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg. In response PPC issued a statement admitting that it was talking to major shareholders over board positions. However, it defended the record of Nelson, saying that he had, “successfully led the company through a period of significant headwinds.”
PPC added that it has received nominations for Jabu Moleketi as successor to the chairman, and Anthony Ball and Noluvuyo Mkhondo to non-executive directorships.
Nelson was appointed as chairman of PPC in October 2016, shortly before it revived merger talks with AfriSam. Later in 2017 Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings made a bid for PPC on condition that it merge with AfriSam. Negotiations with LafargeHolcim, CRH and Dangote Cement but these were all abandoned.
China CAMC Engineering chasing finance for Eurocement plant project 23 February 2018
Russia: China CAMC Engineering is seeking international finance for an upgrade to the Zhiguli cement plant. The US$70m project was part of a wider US$175m contract with Eurocement signed in mid-2014 to upgrade three plants, according to Inside International Industrials. The building phase of the project is planned to last 36 months. The other plants in the project are the Pikalevo cement plant and the Savinski cement plant. China CAMC Engineering a subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corporation (Sinomach).
Fancesa to build cement grinding plant near border with Paraguay 23 February 2018
Bolivia/Paraguay: Bolivia’s Fábrica Nacional de Cemento (Fancesa) is planning to build a new cement grinding plant and terminal near the border with Paraguay. The project is budgeted at US$16m and it may be built as a joint venture, according to the Correo del Sur newspaper. The cement producer is also about to deliver its first consignment to Paraguay.
Grupo Argos and Grupo Calidra inaugurate US$40m lime plant 23 February 2018
Colombia: Grupo Argos and Mexico’s Grupo Calidra have inaugurated a new US$40m lime plant at Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia. The unit has a production capacity of 90,000t/yr, according to the El Colombiano newspaper. The plant is the only one in Colombia capable of producing pulverized limestone. Grupo Argos and Grupo Calidra will operate the plant under a joint venture named Caltek. The new plant is expected to create 100 jobs.