16 February 2015
Reliance Cement wins mine in coal block auction 16 February 2015
India: The first of India's coal mines were auctioned on 14 February 2015. Reliance Cement won one mine for US$128m. Reliance Cement beat Hindustan Zinc and OCL Iron and Steel. The mine has 29.4Mt of total reserves and 5.69Mt of extractable reserves. The block had previously been allotted to Prism Cement earlier. Bidding for the first lot of mines will continue until 22 February 2015. Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said that the money that the government will get from the auctions will be utilised for the development of the states.
Huaxin Cement to build two new cement plants in Tajikistan 16 February 2015
Tajikistan: Tajikistan's parliament has formed an agreement with China's Huaxin Cement for the construction of two new cement plants, including a 1Mt/yr plant in Bobojon Ghafurov District and a 1.2Mt/yr plant in the Dangara Free Economic Zone. According to local media, Tajikistan will possess a 30% stake in the Bobojon Ghafurov plant and a 45% stake in the Dangara plant.
Tajikistan's Ministry of Industry and New Technologies said in January 2015 that that six new cement plants would be established within the next two years. By increasing the country's cement sector, which currently comprises ten plants, Tajikistan expects to become a net cement exporter.
Cofece approves LafargeHolcim merger 16 February 2015
Mexico: The National Competition Commission (Cofece) in Mexico has approved the merger between Holcim and Lafarge, as it does not see any risk to free competition in the country. Lafarge operates in Mexico via ELC Tenedora de Cementos, which it sold to Elementia on 16 December 2014.