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Pakistan: Bestway Cement claimed three awards at the Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2021. The company won the Corporate Social Responsibility in Times of Covid-19 Pandemic award, the Education and Scholarships award and the Green Energy Initiatives award.
It said, “Bestway appreciates its responsibility towards local communities, thus playing a vital role in their socio-economic development such as improving access to health services and education, taking part in the urban development and environmental conservation programs and helping generate employment.
Cemex reintroduces bighorn sheep in Northwest Mexico 05 March 2021
Mexico: Cemex has partnered with reintroduction specialist Ovis to release bighorn sheep at a site in Sierra El Viejo, Sonora state. The UMA El Plomito ranch supplied nine sheep. Four more sheep were born in the open pre-release pen which the sheep currently inhabit. The partners will support the animals with supplementary food and water while they adapt to their new environment.
Head of sustainability Vicente Saiso said, "The reintroduction of the bighorn sheep in Sonora represents one more example of our commitment to the conservation of biodiversity. It is a successful example of joint work between companies and conservation organisations to create a better future for our planet."
CRH grows earnings in difficult year in 2020 04 March 2021
Ireland: CRH’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 5% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis to US$4.6bn in 2020 from US$4.5bn in 2019. Sales fell by 2% to US$27.6bn from US$28.1bn. The group reported a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.3x, its lowest since 2010.
Chief executive officer Albert Manifold said, "Our 2020 performance is testament to the commitment of our people and the strength and resilience of our business model. Through the repositioning of our business in recent years and our relentless focus on continuous business improvement, we have delivered record levels of profitability, margins and cash generation. Although the near-term outlook remains uncertain, our unique portfolio of businesses together with the strength of our balance sheet leaves us well positioned to capitalise on the growth opportunities that lie ahead."
By division the group reported growth in its US cement sales volumes in 2020 on a like-for-like basis due to demand in the west, surpassing the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic elsewhere. However, volumes fell in Canada, particularly in the first half of the year. In 2020, CRH adopted the Ash Grove brand for all its North American cement businesses, unifying 12 cement plants and 42 cement terminals under one brand. In Europe sales and earnings fell due to poor markets in the west despite better conditions on the east. The group noted that it grew its profit in the Philippines due to a strong recovery in the second half and cost savings despite plant shutdowns.
US: Germany-based HeidelbergCement subsidiary Lehigh Cement has taken legal action against the Santa Clara county planning and development director over processing delays to the company’s planning applications. The Los Altos Town Crier newspaper has reported that the producer plans to fill in an open-pit aggregates mine, to open a second mine and to cut through a natural ridge near to its integrated Permanente cement plant near Cupertino in California. The plans constitute an amendment to a plan previously approved in 2012 .
The company says that it has ‘exhausted available administrative remedies’ against the local government office. It said that the rights it seeks to exercise are not subject to permits. It added that the director deemed the application complete in 2019, before requiring additional processing steps.
Israel: Seebo has announced an extended Series B funding round for a total of US$24m. Vertex Ventures is leading the round, in which10D, The Phoenix and Leumi Partners participate. Seebo will use the funding for a further expansion to its global reach, as well as enhancement of its process-based artificial intelligence product.
The company says that its product enables cement producers to identify process-driven inefficiencies in their operations in order to predict and prevent production losses. It can target losses including those involving kiln throughputs, emissions, clinker quality and ammonia usage. General partner Yanai Oron claimed that Seebo is the only supplier providing a productised solution based on artificial intelligence across the full product line.