23 July 2019
Keystone Cement to convert Bath plant to gas firing 23 July 2019
US: Keystone Cement plans to convert its Bath cement plant in Pennsylvania to gas firing from coal. The project will cost US$2.2m, with a US$0.32m grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, according to the Express-Times newspaper. Gas supplier UGI Utilities will work with Keystone to install a new underground gas line from an existing substation to a new substation at the plant. The project is scheduled for competition by mid-2020.
Argentina: Sergio Faifman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Loma Negra has said that his company does not export cement because it is ‘not competitive’ with other countries. He cited logistical issues with transporting clinker and cement to ports, in an interview with the Ámbito Financiero newspaper. He also mentioned that the costs per tonne of cement in Brazil and Egypt were 30% and 50% respectively cheaper than in Argentina. In a ranging interview Faifman also discussed the cement producer’s labour problems at its Baker plant , its on-going upgrade at its L'Amali plant and negative effects from the local currency devaluation in 2018.
GICA starts to market cement from its Sigus plant 23 July 2019
Algeria: Société des Ciments de Sigus, part of Groupe Industriel des Ciments d’Algérie (GICA), has started marketing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) from its 2Mt/yr integrated plant at Sigus, Oum El Bouaghi. The unit started producing cement in the first quarter of 2019, according to the L'Expression newspaper. The project had an investment of around US$427m. Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions was awarded the contract to build the plant in early 2017.
Annual Pakistan cement exports grow by 40% to 6.41Mt 23 July 2019
Pakistan: Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that cement exports grew by 40% year-on-year to 6.41Mt in the financial year to the end of June 2019 from 4.56Mt in the same period in 2018. The value of the exports rose by 22% to US$272m from US$223m.
Italy: The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has reduced a fine against Cementi Rossi by 20% to Euro4.6m. The fine relates to a penalty of Euro184m levied against a number of cement producers and the Italian Cement Association (AITEC), according to the Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper. The original fine of Euro5.8m was reduced following an appeal to the AGCM.
Mississippi Lime resumes normal distribution 23 July 2019
US: Mississippi Lime says that Midwestern flood levels have receded sufficiently enough to enable it to resume normal barge and rail loading and shipping. Previously, the lime producer reported that flooding by the Mississippi River reduced its distribution and supply capabilities in May 2019. Barge loading facilities were affected and flood gates near its Ste Genevieve, Missouri plant were closed forcing it to use an alternate rail route, which reduced shipment capacity and increased costs.