Zimbabwe: Shuntai Investment’s 0.8Mt/yr Chegutu cement plant is now set for commissioning in October 2026, not September 2026 as was previously reported. Company administrator Jack Zhang said that construction is now complete, and test production runs were conducted in August 2026 ahead of commissioning. He said that the plant, which was initially scheduled for commissioning in May 2026, experienced delays due to disruptions in the procurement and shipping of equipment amid tensions in the Middle East, according to The Herald Zimbabwe.

Romania: Holcim is preparing to invest more than €3.5m at its Valea Pravăț plant in Argeș county, as part of a project that aims to incorporate construction and demolition waste into the cement manufacturing process. The investment will go towards an installation designed to store, dose and transport crushed concrete from demolition works. On 3 September 2026, the Argeș County Environmental Directorate published Holcim Romania’s application for an environmental permit for the project, entitled ‘CDM Injection into the Clinker Cooler.’

The planned system will have a processing capacity of approximately 10t/hr and will include a metal storage hopper, a belt feeder, chain and belt conveyors, an electromagnetic separator to remove ferrous materials, dust removal filters and gravity-sealing flaps that connect the new system to the existing grate cooler. The investment is expected to be carried out between September 2026 and April 2027 and is part of the plant’s ongoing modernisation and efficiency improvements.

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Cement has awarded Tianjin Cement Industry Design and Research Institute a US$14.9m contract for the implementation of its ‘Light House’ project, which aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its operations. The contract has a duration of 24 months. The Chinese company will deploy digital technologies, automation, industry 4.0 applications, AI, advanced data analytics and process optimisation, as well as implement predictive maintenance and other solutions to improve energy efficiency.

The financial impact of the project will be reflected in Riyadh Cement’s financial results according to the implementation phases of the contract, with the operational and financial benefits expected to be realised progressively throughout the project period.

Russia: The Sebryakovcement plant in the city of Mikhaylovka was the target of suspected drone strikes that took place overnight on 15 September 2026, according to The New Voice of Ukraine. Explosions hit the plant, belonging to one of Russia’s largest cement producers, following regional missile and drone alerts. Footage posted to social media showed thick smoke rising over the plant, and an explosion was reported near one of the plant’s kilns, which emergency services attended. An oil refinery was also hit. Local officials have not yet confirmed the extent of the damage or reported any casualties from the attacks.