Switzerland: Maerz has reported the successful installation of two Maerz PFR lime kilns with a capacity of 200t/day and 300t/day at Daesung MDI in South Korea, which was commissioned on 19 October 2019. The company also installed a 150t/day E2 two-shaft lime kiln at Easternbulk Lime Products Private Ltd in July 2019. Three further new plants with Maerz kilns are scheduled to enter operation in 2020 in China, Mexico and Russia and a second kiln will increase production of petcoke at Caleras’ San Juan plant in Argentina beginning in mid-2020.

Africa: German-based lubricants supplier Fuchs has taken over direct ownership of 50% of three distribution subsidiaries of its regional subsidiary Fuchs Southern Africa. The companies are based in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The acquisitions will support Fuchs’ aim of increasing its supply to African markets, according to Fuchs executive board chairman Stefan Fuchs. "Investment in a state of the art, fully automated grease manufacturing plant which opened in Isando, Johannesburg, in 2018” signifies the company’s commitment to sustainable social development of the continent, said Fuchs, adding, “Further plant expansions are already being planned.”

Germany: Frankfurt-based fashion designer Concrete Jungle has won the Inhorgenta Fashion Jewellery Award 2019 and the German Design Award for Excellent Product Design 2019 for its Grey Rosé range of jewellery. The collection includes earrings, pendants and wedding rings, which showcase the beauty of concrete. The concrete is inlaid with metallic shards. “The particular challenges of mixing these elements necessitated particular techniques. We were able to work extremely delicately while achieving the enormous stability that characterises our jewellery,” said Concrete Jungle partner Madlen Thorwarth.

Hungary: Lafarge Cement Hungary has announced plans to upgrade clinker production at its 1.0Mt/yr Kiralyagyháza integrated plant with a Euro1.79m investment in chlorine bypass technology, which uses powdered limestone to remove chlorine and one tenth of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) from gases released in clinker production, which will then be used in clinker cooling. There will be a concomitant increase in the rate of alternative fuel (AF) substitution in the plant’s kilns, with an AF fuel store expansion in early 2020 set to raise AF usage to 80% from 60%.

India: Deccan Cements has shared plans to expand its Suryapet waste heat recovery (WHR) power plant in Telangana to 33MW from 18MW. Domex Power Genration Projects has reported that the cost of the development will be US$84.5m and it will take 24 months to complete once statutory clearance is received.

Pakistan: The end of 2019 has seen a flurry of 13 proposals for the construction of new plants and one proposed upgrade submitted to different government departments across Pakistan’s five Punjabi districts. The Balochistan Times has reported that Punjab Minister for Trade and Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal stressed the need for cement companies to provide plans for minimal water use in order to receive clearance.

UK/Ireland: Sean Quinn has bought ‘substantial’ tracts of limestone-rich land in Cavan and Fermanagh on 99-year leases, giving him sole extraction rights, over the past three and half years since his final severance with Quinn Industrial Holdings in mid-2016, according to the Sunday Times. The purchases may have been aimed at strengthening his position in his campaign to re-attain control over the company. It has stated that it has succeeded in supplementing its on-site limestone supply with material from further afield. “These materials are of a higher quality,” said a Quinn Industrial Holding spokesperson.

Nigeria: Chinese-owned FabCom has unveiled a new fibre cement board at a ceremony celebrating the fifth anniversary of its presence in Nigeria. The Sun has reported that the company will manufacture 5Mm²/yr at its fibre cement board plant in Ambuja, which will be operational before 1 January 2021. FabCom managing director Liuxing Wang praised the product’s environmental friendliness, noting its durability, sound insulation, fire and water resistance and multi-use workability. FabCom’s investments in Nigeria total US$190m and have created 200,000 jobs, the company says.

Bangladesh: The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) has presented its Best Corporate Awards 2019 to 34 companies across 12 categories. The cement award winner was LafargeHolcim Bangladesh for its ‘excellent corporate governance.’ HeidelbergCement Bangladesh came second and Premier Cement Mills third.

India: Ireland’s CRH is planning to sell its 50% stake in My Home Industries, according to sources quoted by investor information services group VCCircle. It is reportedly in talks to sell the stake to My Home Group, the company that owns the other half of the subsidiary. My Home Industries operates two integrated plants and two grinding plants with a production capacity of 10Mt/yr. It also runs two ready-mixed concrete plants.

In November 2019 CRH was reported to be looking to sell its assets in the Philippines. At the time of its second quarter results in 2019 chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Manifold described emerging markets as a small part of the group’s business with, “too much disruption, too much dislocation, too much uncertainty.” He added that the company’s focus was on its developed market businesses.