10 October 2014
US: Mitsubishi Cement is seeking to expand its import terminal at the Port of Long Beach, California, for the more efficient handling of operations. Port officials have released a draft report reviewing the potential environmental impacts of the project being proposed by Mitsubishi Cement. A hearing for the draft is set to place take on 22 October 2014.
Mitsubishi Cement wants to reconfigure a cement import facility on Pier F into the space that was formerly used by the Pacific Banana facility. The project calls for adding storage for 40,000t of products, new ship unloading equipment and a new air pollution control system. It would also feature up to two additional truck-loading lanes that would be built underneath the silos. Each new silo would be up to 60ft in diameter and 160ft tall and would have a storage capacity of 10,000t and be capable of being loaded directly from a ship.
If approved, construction could begin as early as 2016, according to Lou Baglietto, spokesman for the project. Baglietto said that while the company is expanding its footprint, it is not expanding its throughput. The project would allow Mitsubishi to handle operations more efficiently. However, the move would position Mitsubishi for expected rises in cement demand as more residential and public works project come online.
"The economy is cyclical and I think there will be a demand for that," said Baglietto. "We want to be ready for that."
Dangote Cement to pay compensation for murder 10 October 2014
Nigeria: Following the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the management of Dangote Cement plant, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State, has agreed to pay compensation to the families of seven dead and numerous injured victims who were attacked by army officers attached to the cement plant on 18 March 2014, following a dispute between one youth and a guard.
Chairman of the Investigations Panel, Tony Ojukwu, said that the investigations had concluded that the incident infringed on the rights of the youths. He confirmed that the management of the plant wrote a letter of satisfaction to the commission accepting to pay the compensation as agreed. Ojukwu disclosed that the victims 'have not given their consent that the amount given to them as compensation be revealed.'
Lafarge and Holcim about to request EU approval to merge 10 October 2014
Europe: Lafarge and Holcim are about to request approval from the European Commission (EC) for their planned merger, according to Lafarge CEO Bruno Lafont.
"We are indeed very close to EU notification," said Lafont. He added that talks with Brussels had been constructive and that the companies were 'well on track' to close the deal in the first half of 2015.