16 October 2015
Ahangarancement must pay excess profit tax, will appeal 16 October 2015
Uzbekistan: The Higher Economic Court of Uzbekistan has upheld a penalty tax on excess profit of Ahangarancement JSC (a subsidiary of Russian Eurocement Group JSC) from 2009 to 2014 and penalties for its late payment.
Ahagarancement stated that it would appeal the decision because it calculated the excess profit tax in accordance with the laws of the country. It added that the calculation had been confirmed as correct by the ministry of finance and the expert council at the State Tax Committee.
"The decision significantly changes the legal practice on issues of the formation of profits of cement companies, significantly encumbers the plant with an additional tax burden, leads to a reduction of investment opportunities of the enterprise and jeopardises the implementation of the project of modernisation of the enterprise," said the company in a press release.
The tax authorities of Uzbekistan have not commented on the situation.
11 detained after alternative fuel protest turns violent 16 October 2015
China: Eleven people have been detained in Yangchun, south China's Guangdong Province, after demonstrations against a project to build a waste incinerator adjacent to a cement plant turned violent.
Protesters said the demonstrations drew hundreds of people agitated over the risk of pollution from the project."How will we survive breathing in noxious smoke?" said one of the protestors.
Tension persisted for two days, with protesters saying that hundreds of people had been gathering near the gates of the cement plant.
Italcementi and trade unions renew talks 16 October 2015
Italy: Italian cement maker Italcementi and Italian trade unions are looking for a solution for the temporary lay-off scheme that will expire in January 2016.
At a meeting on 15 October 2015, the parties determined that it is not possible to extend the current temporary lay-off scheme and consequently they are studying alternatives that would allow wider coverage compared to the initial programmes.
In a statement the trade unions explain that one of the hypotheses could entail the use of the scheme for total cessation of the activities at the plants in Monselice and Scafa, already suspended for years, as well as the partial cessation for the plants in Castrovillari, Sarche di Calavino and Salerno that could be concluded in January 2017.
Besides, a temporary lay-off scheme may be decided for the remaining group's employees that could last until September 2017. The parties will meet again on 2 November 2015.