15 February 2016
37 cement companies apply for coal licences 15 February 2016
Egypt: 37 companies have applied for licences to use coal at cement plants, according to the Industrial Development Authority (IDA). IDA Head Ismail Gaber said that the new licenses aim to increase investments in the cement industry to meet local consumption.
Minister of Industry Tarek Qabil announced in January 2016 that licences would be issued to establish 14 new coal-fired cement factories in nine governorates in Beni Suef, Minya, Qena, Sohag, Aswan, New Valley, Suez, Marsa Matruh and South Sinai. Together these plants will have a cement production capacity of 28Mt/yr. The deadline for receiving offers from companies is 10 May 2016.
Brazil: The office of the Superintendent-general of the antitrust watchdog Cade has recommended a penalty with fines to Votorantim, Holcim and Cimento Tupi for a coordinated refusal to sell certain types of cement in São Paulo state. According to the office, these companies damaged free competition and made it hard for potential competitors to enter the market.
The office also said that there was not enough evidence against Cimentos Liz, Cibrasa, Ciplan, Cimpor, Itabira, Itaguassu, Itambe, Ibacip, Itapessoca, Itapicuru, Itapetinga, Itapicuru, Itapissuma, Itautinga, Intercement and Lafarge and that the administrative process should be dismissed. Cade's own tribunal will have the final decision on whether the cement firms will be fined or not.