17 February 2016
Hetauda Cement plant reopens after fuel blockade lifts 17 February 2016
Nepal: The Hetauda Cement plant has started producing cement again following the lifting of an unofficial fuel blockade by India. The plant was shut after it could not import coal from India in the autumn of 2016. Hetauda resumed production on 11 February 2016, according to the Katmandu Post. Factory officials say the plant lost US$0.9m during the enforced closure.
Cementos Pacasmayo’s profit rises by 12.1% to US$60.4m in 2015 17 February 2016
Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo’s net income rose by 12.1% year-on-year to US$60.4m in 2015 from US$53.8m in 2014. Its revenue fell slightly to US$351m from US$354m. Its cement production volumes fell slightly by 0.7% to 2.3Mt from 2.35Mt.
The cement producer attributed its profit growth to cost savings despite a ‘challenging’ operating environment. It managed to hold its cement production volumes at a stable level due to the ramping up of its Piura cement plant in the fourth quarter of 2015 despite falling volumes at its Pacasmayo and Rioja cement plants.
Paraguay: Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) has shut down its clinker kiln for 30 days to start work on a fuel upgrade project. The US$45m project is intended to allow the kiln to use other fuels as well as the fuel oil it currently uses. A further 90-day stoppage period has been scheduled for mid-2016. The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
INC’s president Jorge Mendez has reassured the public that the cement supply from his plant will not drop during the maintenance period. INC will continue delivering between 50,000 - 55,000 bags/day. The firm has 86,500t of clinker in stock. In addition the government will also import 200,000t of cement to maintain levels. INC is the country’s sole integrated cement plant.
Financial irregularities raised at Calcom Cement 17 February 2016
India: The Oriental Bank of Commerce has raised allegations of ‘mismanagement and siphoning of public money’ at Calcom Cement in a letter sent to its lenders, according to Business Line. The bank was quoting allegations made by Bawri Group.
Together Bawri Group and Dalmia Bharat Group run Calcom Cement, a 2.1Mt/yr cement plant in Assam, as a joint venture. Dalmia Bharat owns a 76% stake in Calcom through its subsidiary Dalmia Cement Bharat.
The letter, dated 14 January 2016, was addressed to Axis Bank, lead lender in a consortium of lenders to Calcom. It stated that, “affairs at CCIL (Calcom) are not being managed in a prudent manner and (there have been) several financial irregularities including fund diversion through circular transactions.” Axis Bank declined to comment on an individual account. Dalmia Bharat said it would not speak to the media, pending arbitration proceedings with the Bawri group.
Votorantim orders Loesche mill for Sivas 2 RM project 17 February 2016
Turkey: Votorantim has placed an order for a type LM 48.4 Loesche mill for grinding cement at its Sivas 2 RM project at its Sivas cement plant. The order was placed on behalf of Votorantim by the Tianjin Cement Industry Design & Research Institute (TDI).
The raw mill will be designed with a capacity of 420t/hr and the material will be ground to a fineness of 14% R90μm. The gearbox will have a power output of 2860kW. The engineering for the cyclone separators is also included in the scope of supply. The lead time for the main components of the mill is eight months and the gearbox will be supplied within the next nine months. The commissioning of the vertical roller mill is planned for the end of 2017.
Previous collaborations between Votoranim and Loesche include projects at cement plants in Rio Branco, Laranjeiras, Salto de Pirapora, Primavera, Edealina and Cuiaba.