22 June 2020

Uzbekistan: The government has announced the sale of shares in UzAssets, an investment company founded to privatise its 36% stake in Qizilqumsement. The Information Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan (DUNYO) has reported that Qizilqumsement is a 51% subsidiary of Uzpromstroymaterialy, with the remainder held by private minority shareholders. Qizilqumsement operates the 3.8Mt/yr Qizilqumsement cement plant in Navoi, Navoiy Region.

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) has suggested the removal a 3% non-refundable advance income tax (AIT) and a 3% import duty on raw materials, as well as the reduction of a US$5.88/t import duty on clinker by 40% to US$3.53/t. The Dhaka Tribune newspaper has reported that BCMA members are struggling to pay their dues due to the impacts of the coronavirus lockdown, which caused the sector a loss of US$353m between 21 March 2020 and 21 June 2020.

BCMA President Mohammed Kabir said, “To generate taxes and revenue from this sector, the government should save our businesses and meet our logical demands in the final budget. We are really frustrated that our demands were unaddressed in the proposed budget. Our working capital will dwindle if the government keeps charging the AIT.” He added, “If the government does not remove the 3% non-adjustable AIT, then at least it should be declared as adjustable tax.”

Sri Lanka: Siam City Cement subsidiary Insee Cement says it is ramping up production at its 0.4Mt/yr Galle grinding plant. The unit in Southern Province opened in 2018. The Daily FT newspaper has reported that the grinding plant, along with Insee’s Puttalam integrated plant, will have the production capacity to serve 100% of domestic demand. The producer added that production and supply of its products had returned to normal following disruption caused by coronavirus-related lockdown measures.

Insee Cement sales, marketing and innovation executive vice president Jan Kunigk said, “Our contribution to uplifting the nation’s economy is of immense value in rebuilding Sri Lanka during post-pandemic recovery. Insee Cement’s ability to efficiently deliver our full capacity of high-quality cement needed by individual house builders and concrete business partners has always been ensured.”

US: Hawaiian Cement has announced the relocation of its Kahului Harbour cement terminal to an adjacent facility, previously occupied by a sugar company. The Maui News newspaper has reported the reason for the relocation as a disruption caused by operations at the terminal to a neighbouring company’s unloading operations, which caused “a significant constraint to operations and safety at Pier 2.” The new terminal, adjoining Pier 3, will have two cement silos with a joint capacity of 6000t, up by 88% from 3200t. Hawaiian Cement says that this will enable it to meet 100% of demand on the island of Maui.

Germany: Schwenk Zement has announced plans for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from cement kiln CO₂ emissions. The World Ethanol and Biofuels Report has reported that Schwenk Zement’s integrated 1.0Mt/yr Allmendingen, Baden-Württemberg plant will receive a pilot SAF plant in late 2020.