03 July 2019

Spain: FYM-HeidelbergCement plans to spend Euro3m on a new raw slate crusher at its integrated Malaga cement plant. The upgrade will replace two existing crushers and will improve dust and noise emissions. The new crusher will be installed in early 2020, with commissioning scheduled for the middle of the same year. No supplier for the equipment has been specified.

The plant is also about to launch a new clinker conveyor at the Port of Malaga. The enclosed system will deliver clinker from the dock to ships via a telescopic arm with a loading capacity of 650t/hr. The first boat to be loaded with the new system is scheduled for late July 2019. The project cost Euro2.5m.

North Korea: Production has reportedly been stopped for three months at the Seongho Lee cement plant near Pyongyang due to a lack of electricity. Sources quoted by South Korea based Daily NK online newspaper suggest that government power rationing has lowered the importance of the plant in comparison to other so-called ‘core’ industries.

The Korean Cement Association reported in 2011 that the plant had a production capacity of 0.95Mt and it uses a wet process production line. The site dates back to 1919 and the age of its equipment may have contributed to the decision to idle the plant.

Chile: The Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA), the country’s environmental body, has approved the environmental impact assessment for a new 0.5Mt/yr grinding plant that Melón is planning to build in Punta Arenas. The unit will have an investment of US$45m, according to the Diario Financiero newspaper. Spain’s Cemengal will supply the mill for the project.

India/UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched GCCA India. As part of GCCA’s strategic partnership with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development the new office, based in Mumbai, will take over the work of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) India, which formerly served as the sector’s sustainability alliance.

GCCA India plans to ensure that, from a sustainability angle, innovation in technology and manufacture, and collaboration across the wider built environment, the Indian cement sector can play a key leadership role. It will develop a work program that will focus on the wider global GCCA priorities but with practical application across the Indian built environment.

Europe: Data from Eurosac shows that estimated paper sack deliveries for the cement sector in Europe grew slightly year-on-year to 0.18Mt in 2018. Growth for other building materials with the exception of cement grew faster at 1.8% to 0.23Mt. Paper sack deliveries from Eurosac members increased by 1.8% to 1.82 million units from 1.80 million units. Eurosac represents over three quarters of European paper sack producers operating in 20 countries.

Ghana: The Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana (CMAG) is lobbying the government against a recent fumigation levy of US$0.50/t on imported clinker by the Ministry of Health. At a recent meeting the association discussed this tax and others negatively affected the cement sector, according to the Business and Financial Times newspaper. It is also unhappy about more longstanding charges, including a VAT restructuring levy of 5%, and a 2% special tax as well as a new 11% electricity tariff and a proposed increase in the cost of a certification licence from the Ghana Standards Authority and impending. CMAG is also complaining to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority about imports.

Egypt: Suez Cement has launched its ‘Primo’ customer loyalty scheme. It is intended to strengthen communication with its clients and build the cement producer market position. Existing customers will be offered benefits, including a loyalty points system that can be redeemed from shopping coupons.