Tajikistan: The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MOINT) says that Tajik-Chinese joint ventures Chzhungtsai Mohir Cement, Huaxin Gayur Cement, and Huaxin Gayur Sughd Cement accounted for nearly 85% of local cement production in the first three months of 2019. Overall production grew by 9% year-on-year to 0.84Mt from 0.75Mt in the same period in 2018, according to the Asia-Plus News Agency. Around 36% of production was exported with more than 150,000t of cement to Uzbekistan, more than 140,000t of cement to Afghanistan and nearly 12,000t of cement to Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan has 13 cement plants with a total production capacity of 4.7Mt/yr.

Kenya: Bamburi Cement’s profit before tax fell to US$6.73m in 2018 from US$40.7m in 2017. Its turnover rose by 4% to US$369m from US$356m. Its cement volumes grew by 5%. It blamed the drop in profits on increasing energy and raw material costs. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim noted that the market delinked by 5% in Kenya, its primary market, and was ‘flat’ in Uganda. It also noted ‘increased competitive pressure’ due to cement grinding production capacity and the ‘shrinking’ market.

Kenya: Employees of the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) have filed an application at the Court of Appeal to jail the company’s directors for not paying them. The workers argue that, despite both the labour and appellate courts having directed that they be paid, the company directors have failed to comply, according to the Business Daily newspaper. Over 400 workers were awarded nearly US$14m under a 2012 - 2015 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Botswana: Rachit Josh, the managing director of Matsiloje Portland Cement, say that the company will struggle to reopen without government support to block imports. The cement producer closed its plant at Matsiloje, near Francistown in January 2018, according to the Monitor newspaper. Josh blamed cement imports from South Africa as being a particular concern.

In June 2018 the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said it was starting to introduce restrictions on imports restricting imports to 70% locally sourced product. However, it is unclear when these measures will be implemented.

Matsiloje Portland Cement is a subsidiary of Nortex Group. Its integrated plant had a production capacity of 30,000t/yr. The company produced the lime it used for its cement and it sourced other raw materials from South Africa and fly ash from a power station at Morupule.

Uganda: Hima Cement, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, is a building materials partner for the on-going 600MW Karuma Hydropower project on the River Nile. The plant is being built by China’s SinoHydro Corporation at an estimated cost of around US$1.7bn. The project was started in 2013 and it is scheduled to be completed in December 2019.

Hima Cement has been one of two cement suppliers assisting it. It has provided a fine cement that maintains its early strength while requiring a lower water content. Over 114,000t of Powermax CEM II A-P 42.5N have been supplied to the project, chosen for its low heat requirements for hydration and its pozzolanic content which results in long-term durability. Delivery of this product has required a dedicated fleet of 60 bulk cement trucks when cement demand for the project was at its peak.

US: Cemex USA has been awarded the 2019 Energy Star Partner of the Year by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for its efforts in energy management. It was presented with the award by the EPA and the US Department of Energy at a ceremony in Washington, DC.

“At Cemex, sustainability is key to our vision of building a better future, embedded in our core business strategy and day-to-day operations,” said Cemex USA President Ignacio Madridejos. “We strive to conserve energy where possible with energy management initiatives, and many of our operations have received repeated recognition for their efforts. Cemex is also incorporating the use of more alternative fuels.”

China: Germany’s Wacker Group has opened a new competence centre for cement and concrete applications in Shanghai. The laboratory will develop silicone based products and solutions which are able to improve the performance of cement and concrete and to make these materials more sustainable. Special focus is on silicone admixtures and performance enhancers.

“As a regional innovation platform focusing on cement and concrete, the new lab will cooperate with leading Chinese universities, research institutions and the industry. Its goal is to develop innovative products and solutions which support the sustainable development of the Chinese construction materials industry,” said Paul Lindblad, president of Wacker Greater China.

At its new competence centre in Shanghai, Wacker will be able to investigate how silicone chemistry can protect cement and concrete against environmental influences and, at the same time, improve the durability of these materials.

Colombia: Cemex Colombia has reached a deal with the Attorney General allowing it to operate its Maceo cement plant in Antioquia. Under the terms of the government-brokered agreement Cemex will lease the land from CI Calizas y Minerales for around US$15,000/yr, according to the El Espectador newspaper. The lease has a duration of 21 years and this can be extended by another 10 years.

In 2016 Cemex fired several senior staff members in relation to the Maceo project and its subsidiary’s chief executive resigned. This followed an internal audit and investigation into payments worth around US$20.5m made to a non-governmental third party in connection with the acquisition of the land, mining rights and benefits of the tax free zone for the project. The US Department of Justice is also investigating the project.

Argentina: Loma Negra and tyre manufacturer Bridgestone have started a partnership to re-use water in the Llavallol suburb of Buenos Aires. Bridgestone will provide Loma Negra with 200,000l/days of filtered water for use at its operations, according to the Mercado newspaper. In return Loma Negra will use less water from the local aquifer.

Ireland: CRH has appointed Bank of America to sell its European Distribution business. The sale is valued at around Euro2bn and is expected to start in May 2019, according to sources quoted by Reuters. Private equity companies including Advent, Lone Star and CVC have been linked to the sale. CRH is due to issue a trading updating in late April 2019.