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Toshali Cements acquires land with historic religious landmark 28 February 2020
India: The state government of Odisha has leased an area of limestone-bearing land that includes the Asura Vihara Gumphas, a first century BC Jain religious centre with significance in local mythology. The Blink newspaper reported that the site, consisting of three caves, is ‘covered by thick vegetation’ and in need of ‘proper conservation and preservation.’ Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Odisha state curator Anil Tripathy said, ‘the caves should be retrieved from the company and the allotment of the site cancelled.’ Toshali Cements is reportedly carrying out limestone surveys on an area, including the caves.
INTACH is in the process of conducting a comprehensive survey of the Mahandi Valley, in which the land lies, and has identified over 1000 monuments of ‘tangible heritage.’
Vassiliko Cement is a gold Environmental Protector 28 February 2020
Cyprus: Vassiliko Cement has bagged the Environmental Protector gold award for the second consecutive year at the Pancyprian Environmental Awards for Organizations and Businesses 2019. The event was held at the Cypriot Presidential Palace by the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CyCERE), the Environment Commissioner’s Office, the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) Agricultural Faculty, the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (ACTE), the Business and Professional Women of Limassol (BPW) and the volunteers’ network Together Cyprus. The company said that its “key aim is to promote environmental practices across all aspects of its activities, in order to protect the communities where it operates, achieving sustainable development.”
LafargeHolcim reports on record year 27 February 2020
Switzerland: LafargeHolcim has announced a Euro1.95bn profit in 2019, up by 32% from Euro1.48bn in 2018. The profit was a company record, made possible by ‘lower restructuring costs and financial expenses,’ according to LafargeHolcim CEO Jan Jenisch. Sales were Euro25.1bn, up by 3.1% from Euro24.4bn, ‘driven by good growth in Europe and North America, good price dynamics across all business segments and higher prices in most markets,’ according to Jenisch. “We have achieved all our targets for 2019 and have moved our company to a new level of performance,” he said.
Dangote shares 2019 results 27 February 2020
Nigeria: Dangote Cement’s profit in 2019 was US$685m, down by 17% from US$822m in 2018. Sales were US$2.46bn, down by 1.1% year-on-year from US$2.49bn in 2018. “Export sales were affected by the Nigeria-Benin border closure in the second half of 2019. Looking ahead, I expect an increase in volumes in 2020 as we commence clinker exports via shipping from Nigeria,” said Dangote Cement CEO Joe Makoju. The group reported pan-African volume growth to 9.4Mt/yr, noting a 94% growth in Tanzanian volumes, aided by the commencement of operations at a temporary gas power plant in the East African country.
Retiring from the company, Makoju said, “I am proud to have watched Dangote Cement grow from a local producer back in 2007 to a major force in global cement production. Dangote Cement has eliminated Nigeria's dependence on imported cement.” He wished his successor Michel Puchercos all the best in his new role.
Adelaide Brighton’s profit flops 27 February 2020
Australia: Adelaide Brighton’s profit in 2019 was US$31.1m, down by 74% from US$122m in 2018. Sales were down by 7% to US$997m from US$1.07bn. Adelaide Brighton chairman Raymond Barro explained that ‘increased competition and softer demand for construction materials’ locally impacted revenue and earnings. He said that ‘cost pressures across sea freight, transport and raw materials’ caused the dive in profit.