North Korea: State-owned Sunchon Cement has completed an upgrade to its cement plant in Sunch'ŏn-shi, P’yŏngan-namdo Province, Korea News has reported. The upgrade included the installation of real-time monitoring equipment in the plant’s raw materials conveying system. The company says that this will help to increase the plant’s efficiency. It also fitted new crushers and vibrating feeders.

India: Residents of Kamrup, Assam, have petitioned the district government to block Taj Cement’s plans to build a new 1Mt/yr grinding plant at Chamata Pathar. The residents’ petition cites groundwater and ecological concerns over the plan. The Sentinel newspaper has reported that the plant will be the third cement facility in the immediate area. The area adjoins the Amchang and Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The Greater Dimoria Citizens’ Protection Committee said “The current cement factories have already taken a toll on our environment and health. The proposed Taj Cement plant will only make matters worse, putting our lives and the nearby wildlife sanctuaries at risk.”

Russia: Belarusian Cement has concluded a deal with the Moscow regional government to build a logistics facility in the region at Naro-Fominsk. Prime Press News has reported that the facility will cost US$22.5m. It will be equipped with ready-mix concrete, precast concrete and dry mix plants, as well as a rail terminal, storage areas and loading zones for despatches by road.

Director General Alexander Dovgalo said "This investment will not only bolster our logistics capabilities but also enhance our service quality for Russian partners and extend our market reach within Russia and the CIS member states."

Global: Ministers from Canada and the UAE have established priority actions to decarbonise the global sector. The announcement follows the initiative's launch at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in December 2023.

The plan outlines sector-specific actions across themes such as education, innovation and environmental coordination. These efforts aim to make ‘near-carbon neutral’ cement production the preferred option globally by 2030.

In addition, the government of Canada and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have announced a new partnership aimed at accelerating decarbonisation in Thailand’s cement and concrete sectors. The collaboration was unveiled in conjunction with the CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference in Bangkok, hosted by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). The partnership will provide technical assistance and investment support to develop policies, a regulatory framework and a national net-zero roadmap.

Taiwan: Taiwan Cement recorded a net income of US$60.8m in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 39% rise from the same period last year, despite a 2.9% decline in revenue to US$790m. The company's profit margin increased to 7.7% from 5.4% in the first quarter of 2023, attributed to reduced expenses.

India: UltraTech Cement has conserved 105m³ of water in the 2024 financial year, achieving a status of five times water positive. The company's water management strategy includes the installation of rainwater harvesting systems and zero liquid discharge plants at several manufacturing units to enable 100% reuse of treated water.

Saudi Arabia: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has initiated construction of H-KSA 1, its first production unit in Saudi Arabia, located at Rabigh. The foundation stone was laid following a licensing agreement with Shurfah Group, which includes building four Hoffmann units under an exclusive 22-year deal. These units will use Hoffmann's clinker-free cement, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives. Completion is anticipated by end of 2025.

Co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "We are delighted to participate in the decarbonisation of the Saudi construction sector by building several of our units on their territory and marketing our 0% cement clinker."

New Zealand: Golden Bay, New Zealand's sole cement producer and a division of Fletcher Building, is advancing its sustainability goals at its Portland plant near Whangārei. The plant has been incorporating old tyres and treated timber in its production process since 2021, with the Ministry for Environment helping fund US$10m of the US$15.5m to upgrade the plant for the project. The plant uses tyres to replace 55-60% of the coal required, and plans to eliminate coal use by 2030. The facility has increased its use of recycled tyres from 15,000t to 30,000t/yr and is aiming for 40,000t/yr. The government’s Tyrewise programme supports tyre recycling, with the plant also investing in an on-site shredder. Upcoming projects include substituting coal with non-recyclable materials like old carpets and plastics, targeting a 30% reduction in emissions. Construction has already started on the project and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Manufacturing manager Kelly Stevens said, "We’re diverting 100,000t/yr of waste that would’ve gone to landfill.”

France: Cem’in’log has surpassed 1Mt of clinker processed at the Sète site since its inception over four years ago, encouraging parent company Cem’in’EU to continue investments there. Since 2019, the Port of Sète has served as a key entry point for Cem’in’EU’s clinker imports, mainly from North Africa. The site's storage capacity was expanded to 300,000t/yr in 2023. A new warehouse set to increase capacity to 500,000t/yr will begin construction in summer 2024 with a €5m budget. Cem’in’log will also boost its equipment, expecting to operate six rail services weekly by the end of 2024, supporting future expansion.

General manager Jean-Yves Apard said "We are currently dispatching four to five trains per week from Sète, loaded with 1850t of clinker. By the end of 2024, with a second locomotive provided by Regiorail and handled at the port by Viia, we will increase to six trains per week."

Egypt: Beni Suef Cement Company has reported a 32% year-on-year decline in profit for the first quarter of 2024, with a net profit after tax of US$873,000 compared to US$1.3m in the same period in 2023. Despite the fall in profits, sales rose significantly to US$14m from US$5.8m in the first quarter of 2023.