10 November 2015
Cementos Progreso to build homes via new scheme 10 November 2015
Guatemala: Cementos Progreso will donate US$0.26 for every bag of cement sold in ConstruRed stores in Guatemala towards a fund that will be used to build 100 homes in the country. Consumers will be asked to put forward the name of someone they know who needs a home as part of this action. They have to be over 18 and have a plot of land ready for their home. The recipient will also have to give proof of a monthly incomes of less than US$650 in order to qualify.
APCMA calls for action on Iranian imports 10 November 2015
Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has said that the growth in the domestic economy has supported overall growth in the cement industry. However it added that the industry has had to approach various decision makers to stop the influx of Iranian cement into Pakistan from Iran via Balochistan. The APCMA said that the industry needs a safeguard mechanism to be put in place to stop the adverse effects of cement smuggling into the country. It stated that the government should impose a 20% Regulatory Duty for import of cement in addition to the current customs duty.
The APCMA spokesperson added that, due to the high cost of doing business in Pakistan, the country's cement industry is losing competitiveness to other countries such as Iran, the UAE and India. The industry has appealed for reduction in energy costs, removal of taxes imposed on gas, a reduction of custom duty on coal to zero and an additional incentive of 5% on export of cement by sea.
Statistics indicate that the cement sector is now almost completely dependent on domestic sales, the share of which has increased to over 80% of total cement sales compared to just 50% in 2008 - 2009, as domestic sales continue to increase, while exports are showing constant decline. Cement dispatches to domestic markets during the month of October 2015 were 2.6Mt compared with 2.1Mt during October 2014, an increase of 24% year-on-year.
Conch delegates visit Eurocement 10 November 2015
Russia/China: A delegation from Conch company, one of China's largest building materials corporations, has visited Russia to see the cement plants of Eurocement. At the meeting, which was held at Eurocement's central office, the group's president Mikhail Skorokhod explained the group's key projects to the Chinese representatives and discussed possible areas of cooperation.
"Conch has the most modern equipment for the production of cement and has considerable experience in operating production lines. It is extremely interesting for Eurocement to study its experience as well as to consider its foreign experience for the development of the national building materials industry in Russia," said Skorokhod. "I am convinced that our Chinese colleagues would also be interested in getting acquainted with the activities of the Russian cement sector leader. This meeting will be the beginning of a fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation."
The Chinese delegation will visit Mikhailovcement, Ulyanovskecement and Sengleevskiycement during the visit.
Egyptians Against Coal want to eradicate its use by 2017 10 November 2015
Egypt: An independent local coalition called Egyptians Against Coal (EAC) aims to advocate excluding coal use from Egypt's energy and cement industry by 2017 due to its 'hazardous environmental threats,' according to a statement from the group released on 10 November 2015.
In mid-September 2015, the Ministry of Environment approved studies made by seven cement factories to use coal in their production process instead of natural gas. The factories include those of LafargeHolcim, Suez Cement (Italcementi) and Arabian Cement, among others.
Suez Cement has announced that it plans to convert two more of its plants to use alternative energy sources, at a total cost of US$37 - 50m each. The company is aiming to convert the Tora and Helwan plants to use coal and a heavy fuel oil known as mazut, following in the footsteps of the Kattameya and Suez plants in the last few months.
During a meeting, the EAC discussed potential ways to raise awareness and advocacy on both the level of individuals and decision makers. The initiative brings together researchers, economists, lawyers, as well as journalists who are interested in environmental issues.
"We are about to issue a booklet that illustrates everything related to coal use and another booklet about alternative energy resources to produce clean energy," said Amena Sharaf, a researcher at the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR).
According to the EAC, coal use in some factories caused severe harm for its labour force and their families living nearby. It claims that workers 'do not know about friendlier energy alternatives that could be used.'
The use of coal in Egypt raised many concerns on both the local and official levels when the idea was first suggested, including among then-minister of environment Laila Iskandar. The amendments stated that coal will be used on a 'large scale' without stating a definitive number on the industries in which it will be used.