26 February 2020

UK: Germany-based HeidelbergCement’s subsidiary Hanson Cement will be the subject of a study in the use of biomass and hydrogen fuels coordinated by the Mineral Products Association (MPA). The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is funding the Euro3.81m study, the results of which it says will be shared across the cement industry. HeidelbergCement CEO Dominik von Achten said, "In addition to our activities in the field of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS), this project is an important step towards realising our vision of carbon-neutral concrete by 2050.”

Uzbekistan: The State Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection (SCEEP) has suspended operations at SingLida’s 0.1Mt/yr integrated Ahtachi plant in Andijan region. Trend News has reported that, following an audit of clinker production between 12 February 2019 and 21 February 2019, the cyclones had failed to meet lawful standards of dust collection. Rates varied between 53% and 61% dust collection, compared to a design capacity of 100%. The government body said that it had given ‘instructions for prompt elimination of deficiencies and reduction of pollutant emissions into the air,’ and has suspended operations of the clinker line and mill until such a time as the problem is resolved.

Egypt: Alexandria Portland Cement has reduced its margin of loss by 40% year-on-year to US$15.2m in 2019 from US$25.3m in 2018.

Greece-based Titan Cement is the 89% owner of Alexandria Portland Cement via its subsidiary Alexandria Development Ltd.

Kenya: East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) has recorded losses of US$16.2m in 2019, up by 0.6% from US$16.1m in 2018, in spite of sales growth over the period of 8.0% year-on-year to US$14.7 from US$13.6m. Reuters has reported that the company will not be paying its shareholders.

Tajikistan: Builders completed the construction of 1.36Mm² of multi-storey housing in Tajikistan in 2019, up by 24% from 1.10Mm² in 2018. Tajikistan Newsline has reported that all residential construction concrete comes from domestically produced cement. Tajikistan produced 4.2Mt of cement in 2019 - up by 11% from 1.8Mt in 2018 - exporting 1.5Mt. It imported 20,000t, primarily of white cement.

Germany: Siemens subsidiary Flender, which supplies couplings and gearboxes to the cement industry, has signed a partnership agreement for technological solutions with digital drive specialist Currax. The partnership aims to bring a comprehensive increase in efficiency to Flender’s business and a high level of flexibility for customers. Currax executive director Daniel Aßman said, “From customer acquisition to sales, from implementation to support, Currax is the contact for all matters relating to the Flender portfolio.”