13 October 2016
India: The Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has demanded that the state government of Meghalaya cancel a public hearing to discuss the construction of a plant by Dalmia Cement at Thangskai scheduled for 25 October 2016. The group is protesting about mining rights to the site, according to the Meghalaya Times.
"We strongly express our opposition and demand that the proposed public hearing for extraction of limestone from Thangskai village by the Dalmia Cement factory is immediately revoked," said HANM- East Jaintia Hills president Ency Shadap. The group has also asked that the state government give a public clarification on its decision to grant permission to the cement company to extract limestone from the district and cited certification issues with the Ministry of Forest & Environment.
Sagar Cements to raise funds for upgrades 13 October 2016
India: Sagar Cements is planning to raise funds to finance expansion of its cement grinding plant at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh as well as to set up a coal-fired power plant at its plant at Nalgonda in Telangana. A directors board meeting has been scheduled on 19 October 2016 to discuss proposals for the financing.
LafargeHolcim buys stakes in SCB Lafarge Benin and Cimencam 13 October 2016
Benin/Cameroon: LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique has purchased a 50% stake in SCB Lafarge Benin and 54.7% in Cimencam in Cameroon. Amounts for the deals have not been disclosed, according to the Ecofin Agency. LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique, a joint venture between Lafarge Holcim and the Société nationale d’investissement also bought Socimat in Cote d’Ivoire in July 2016.
SCB Lafarge in Benin produces about 600,000t/yr of cement and Cimencam produces 1.7Mt/yr. The new acquisitions are part of LafargeHolcim’s expansion strategy across Africa. Countries with high growth potential such as Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Mauritania, Congo, DRC and Senegal have also been targeted.