23 June 2016
Crimea’s only integrated cement plant to get upgrade 23 June 2016
Crimea: JSC Bakhchysarai Factory Stroyindustriya, the only cement producer in Crimea, is implementing a modernisation programme. The company intends to change from the wet process to the semi-dry process, increasing its cement production capacity to 1.2Mt/yr, while considerably reducing the cost of production.
Azerbaijan: In the five months of 2016, cement production in Azerbaijan decreased by 30.3%. This is primarily due to the fall in business activity and a reduction in public investment in the economy. In January - May 2016 cement production was 829,000t, according to the State Statistics Committee. Over the same period concrete plants produced just 177,000t of concrete, 60% less than for the comparable period of 2015.
Quarry workers kidnapped in Nigeria 23 June 2016
Nigeria: Seven limestone quarry workers are in the hands of kidnappers in Nigeria after a deadly roadside attack. The men were in a group driving on the outskirts of the city of Calabar, Cross River State, when they were attacked by gunmen on 22 June 2016. The Nigerian driver of the vehicle was shot dead, while seven - three Australians, two Nigerians, one South African and one New Zealander - were kidnapped. A fourth Australian was able to escape.
The men were working for Australia-based mining company Macmahon Holdings, which mines material for processing at Lafarge Africa's UniCem cement plant at Mfamosing, in the southeast of Nigeria.
Eyewitness Akan Akpan said the kidnappers had fled with the seven men in a boat. "The kidnappers came out from the bridge, shot the driver of the vehicle and took the victims away through on river," he told Nigeria’s Punch.
The identity of the kidnappers is not known. “We are working to ensure the safe return of all the men involved and are in communication with their families," said Macmahon in a statement.