03 September 2021
Lafarge Africa presents 2020 Sustainability Report 03 September 2021
Nigeria: Lafarge Africa, part of Switzerland-based Holcim, has presented its 2020 Sustainability Report. The company’s sustainability strategy consists of four pillars: climate and energy, circular economy, environment and community. In 2020, it co-processed 71,029t of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and its water intensity was 201/t of cement. It also says it played a leading role in waste management in Nigeria through its partnership with the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), creating 3000 new jobs in recycling. In line with its quarry rehabilitation plan, it restored 933ha of land during the year. 9.6% of its energy consumption derived from renewable sources.
Lafarge Africa doubled the number of beneficiaries of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities within its host communities year-on-year to 250,000 in 2020. Its investments in community development initiatives to counteract the Covid-19 outbreak and its impact totalled US$2.92m.
Chair Prince Adefioye said “By deploying innovation, we are championing how Nigeria builds better. It is holistic and strategically driven to ensure that we are scaling in reach and impact in the economic and environmental spheres. In the social sphere, we are also deliberately implementing initiatives that further prepare us for the future such as leveraging technology and improving our diversity indicators.”
Arghakhachi Cement to issue initial public offering 03 September 2021
Nepal: Arghakhachi Cement has announced that it will issue general shares in an initial public offering (IPO) in the 2023 financial year. The exact date of the IPO is to be released later, according to the Republica newspaper. Separately, the cement producer has received certification from the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology to produce 43 grade Ordinary Portland Cement.
Holcim sets 2030 biodiversity and water targets 03 September 2021
Switzerland: Holcim has announced a strategy to become ‘nature-positive’ by restoring and preserving biodiversity and water. It will also undertake measures to bring more nature into cities. The strategy is based on transformative rehabilitation plans and measured by a science-based methodology developed in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Holcim aims to replenish freshwater in water-risk areas while lowering water intensity across all its product lines. It will also accelerate the deployment of solutions such as Hydromedia and green roof systems for more liveable urban environments. The group says that its nature-positive strategy places it among the top 1% of the 500 largest global companies with science-driven biodiversity targets.
Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer Magali Anderson said, “With nature at the heart of everything we do, I am pleased that we are taking significant steps to improve our biodiversity and water stewardship in a measurable and science-driven way. Building on our Net Zero commitment, our nature-based solutions play a vital role in reducing the impact of climate change and increasing our business resilience. Becoming nature-positive plays a critical role in our vision to build progress for people and the planet.”
Tamil Nadu government launches Valimai cement 03 September 2021
India: The state government of Tamil Nadu has announced the launch of a new cement, called Valimai, by one of its subsidiary cement producers. The United News of India agency has reported that the government anticipates a drop in cement prices as a result of the launch. It is currently targeting a total cement capacity of 19Mt/yr with the establishment of a planned 10Mt/yr plant.
On mid-June 2021, the state government asked cement producers operating locally to lower their prices.
Argentina: The Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers (AFCP) has agreed with the Argentine Mining Workers Association union to a 48% pay rise for all Argentinean cement workers. The La Voz del Interior newspaper has reported that the union has lifted its nationwide state of alert as a result of the agreement.
China National Building Materials’ cement sales grow by 3% to US$9.26bn in first half of 2021 03 September 2021
China: Sales revenue from China National Building Materials’ (CNBM) cement business grew by 3% year-on-year to US$9.26bn in the first half of 2021 from US$8.98bn in the first half of 2020.Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 12% to US$3.02bn from US$2.70bn. The group’s cement and clinker sales increased by 7.6% to 177Mt. Its concrete sales volumes increased by 13% to 52Mm3. It reported that government fiscal policy boosted demand from January to April 2021 but that heavy rainfall and increasing bulk commodity prices in May 2021 slowed the progress of some projects.
Across all business lines, the group’s revenue grew by 14% to US$18.9bn from US$16.5bn in the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 13% to US$3.98bn from US$3.51bn. Total revenue benefitted from particular gains from its New Materials and Engineering businesses. However, the Engineering businesses segment reported significant drops in earnings in the reporting period. Sinoma International reported that it faced ‘multiple challenges’ such as the coronavirus pandemic outside of China, rising raw material prices and negative currency exchange effects.
Anhui Conch’s profit falls due to rising costs and competition 03 September 2021
China: Anhui Conch’s operating revenue grew by 8.7% year-on-year to US$12.5bn in the first half of 2021 from US$11.5bn in the same period in 2020. However, its net profit fell by 7% to US$2.32bn from US$2.49bn. The group blamed this on rising raw material prices and ‘fierce’ competition. Anhui Conch reported that its production and sales volumes of cement and clinker increased by 11.5% to 208Mt. By region, sales grew in east, central and south China but fell in the west.
The group said that one clinker production line and two cement grinding units for Hunan Yunfeng Cement had been commissioned during the first half of 2021. Construction work on two grinding projects based in Haimen and Ganzhou also started. Outside of China, work on the group’s Qarshi project in Uzbekistan progressed to the installation of equipment.
Huaxin Cement reports strong start to 2021 but warns of slow demand in second quarter 03 September 2021
China: Huaxin Cement’s sales revenue increased by 17% year-on-year to US$2.28bn in the first half of 2021 from US$1.95bn in the same period in 2020. Net profit rose by 8.3% to US$378m from US$349m. Cement and clinker sales grew by 14% to 37Mt and concrete sales volumes more than doubled to 3.36Mm3. The cement producer reported that demand for cement decreased in May and June 2021 due to bad weather and price rises of raw materials leading to reduced construction activity.
Mannok commissions new bagging system from Haver & Boecker 03 September 2021
UK: Mannok has commissioned a Euro2.1m bagging system supplied by Germany-based Haver & Boecker. The order included a Roto-Packer Adams 10 spout bag filling system and a new automatic film reel changer, designed to run at 1200 bags/hr. Installation took place in the second quarter of 2021 and the new bagging unit is now in production. The upgrade now gives Mannok the capacity to pack around 50t/hr of cement in weatherproof bags.
Chief executive officer Liam McCaffrey said, “This is a major investment in our Cement operations which completes the second phase of our investment in our weatherproof bagging line, upgrading it from a single to a double bagging line with a significant increase in output capacity. Our initial investment to bring our weatherproof polyethylene bags to the market was in response to demand from Great Britain-based merchants and we later introduced the bags to the Irish market, where the response was equally positive.”
The cement producer operates an integrated plant at Derrylin, Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It previously installed a weatherproof bagging line in 2018 that allows it to extend its range of bagged cements.