11 December 2014
Tuban plant to start in first half of 2015 11 December 2014
Indonesia: PT Holcim Indonesia has said that it expects its new plant in Tuban, East Java, to start operations during the first half of 2015. Spokesperson Deni Nuryandain said that the plant would increase the company's production capacity by 3.4Mt, or 40%. "Our total production capacity will reach 12.5Mt /yr," he said. Deni added that currently, Holcim has started operating its new plants in Narogong, West Java, and Cilacap, Central Java.
Holcim boss says that El Salvador is stalling 11 December 2014
El Salvador: The cement industry in El Salvador is expected to grow by just 1% in 2014, according to the executive director of Holcim in the country, Ricardo Chavez Caparroso. Holcim itself will grow very little, with lower exports expected. Investments into property projects have been low and planning permission rules are 'too tight' according to Chavez Caparroso.
Chavez Caparroso believes that the government should come up with a new strategy to boost the cement sector and that housing projects should be supported via clear and well-defined policies, especially given the country's current housing deficit. He added that Holcim hopes to secure a lucrative road contract in the country, which would help its sales.
PPC receives merger proposal from AfriSam 11 December 2014
South Africa: PPC, South Africa's largest lime and cement maker has said that AfriSam, its competitor, has proposed a merger between the two companies. AfriSam's proposal was conditional and non-binding and prompted PPC's shares to surge on 10 December 2014. This was reported by local media as a sign that the market likes the idea of the merger.
PPC said that its board of directors was currently considering the proposal and would make a further announcement in due course once it has concluded its consideration of the proposal. The firm has been in a state of flux in 2014 due to protracted boardroom wrangling.