14 June 2021

Turkmenistan: Germany-based Thyssenkrupp has received an order for a new 3000t/day line for the Lebap cement plant from Turkmen Enjam. The Arab Times newspaper has reported that the line will include a raw materials crushing and preparation plant and storage facilities.

Italy: HeidelbergCement subsidiary Italcementi has announced a planned investment of Euro5.0m to restart clinker production at its Trentino cement plant in Sarche di Madruzzo. The plant will have an integrated production capacity of 0.25Mt/yr when it resumes full operation from January 2022. The company aims to establish a ‘reference plant for the Northeast’ at the facility. It will begin hiring 30 new staff in late 2021. The unit has been operating as a grinding plant since 2015.

Technical director Agostino Rizzo said, “The cement plant is equipped with the technologies necessary to guarantee high level environmental performance. To this will be added a landscape integration. The relationship with the region and local communities is of great importance for us.”

Malawi/Zambia: China-based Huaxin Cement plans to spend US$160m towards buying cement plants in Zambia and Malawi. It intends to spend US$150m on purchasing a 75% stake in Lafarge Zambia and US$10m on acquiring Pan African Cement from Lafarge Cement Malawi. The former operates two integrated cement plants in Zambia with a combined production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr. The latter operates a 0.25Mt/yr grinding plant at Blantyre in Malawi. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in each of the relevant countries.

Trinidad and Tobago: Rock Hard Cement says it intends to raise the price of its imported cement in July 2021 due to increasing prices around the world and volatile shipping rates. It added that it expected prices to stabilise in 2022, according to the Trinidad Express newspaper. Cement shortages have been reported at retailers in the country. This has been attributed to local manufacturer Trinidad Cement stopping production in early May 2021 dye to government coronavirus-related health regulations.

Pakistan: Adani Enterprises has incorporated Adani Cement as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The Pioneer newspaper has reported that the new company will produce various classes of cements. However, it is yet to start business operations.

India: JSW Cement has launched a new set of products in the construction chemicals sector. These will include floor hardeners, waterproofing compounds and readymix plaster. The company’s 0.3Mt/yr chemical plant at Ballari in Karnataka is supporting the move.

Construction Chemicals business head Mubin Hussain said "With advances in green product technologies, this sector will see a dynamic shift from conventional construction mix ratios to extracted by-product engineered compositions. Construction chemicals and dry mix mortars are expected to grow fourfold by the 2025 financial year."

US: Cobod’s modular BOD2 3D construction printer is being used to build a 160m² residential house in Tempe, Arizona. The new house will be ready for its occupants by September 2021. The building has been designed by Candelaria Associates.

General manager Henrik Lund-Nielsen said, “Our 3D construction technology and printers have enjoyed immense success in Europe, Africa, The Middle East, and Asia. Obviously, due to our long-term cooperation with GE, we have some success with US customers also. Still, we are really pleased that our printers are now beginning to make a stronger inroad into the US construction market. More and more US companies realise that our technology is superior to what local suppliers can deliver. Our printers have done buildings in two US states now and more will follow in the coming months.”