19 December 2022

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) will invest US$2.89bn in new renewable power infrastructure across its businesses. Major growth areas include 3000MW of solar power generation capacity. This will increase group solar capacity by a factor of 15. Saur Energy News has reported that the renewable power projects will support the company’s on-going decarbonisation investments in cement and other businesses.

SCG is committed to achieving a circular business model and net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

Europe: Cembureau has welcomed a satisfactory conclusion to talks over the new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) under the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Negotiators from different EU institutions agreed to a gradual CBAM implementation, which will officially commence in October 2023. Free allocations of ETS credits to the EU cement sector and other industries will phase out between 2026 and 2034. During this transition period, CBAM duties will apply to imported products in proportion to EU production not covered by free allocation.

Cembureau's chief executive Koen Coppenholle said “The agreements on CBAM and ETS are essential to create a global level playing field on CO₂ and support our sector in its transition to carbon neutrality. It is positive that the EU institutions strengthened some key aspects of CBAM. We however regret that the adopted texts do not provide a structural solution for exports. Some EU countries export up to 50% of their domestic cement production and these will be at risk should no concrete export solution be found before 2026.”

Coppenholle added “Looking ahead, we need to focus on CBAM implementation and its water-tightness, to ensure the mechanism fully equalises CO₂ costs between EU and non-EU suppliers. It is also essential that policymakers support EU industries like cement, which are confronted with unsustainably high energy costs at a time some of our trading partners are launching massive subsidy programmes. CBAM, ETS and a strong innovation fund are essential parts of the puzzle, but we look forward to European Commission proposals for a truly ambitious industrial policy, as requested by the European Council in its meeting of 15 December 2022.”

Pakistan: National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has secured a US$46.6m loan from German state-owned bank KfW for construction of a new 500kV grid station in Chakwal, Punjab. The German government loaned NTDC a further US$2.55m for power capacity expansions. The investments will go towards increasing the availability of electricity in Chakwal, primarily for the benefit of the district's multiple cement plants.

Bestway Cement, DG Khan Cement and Gharibwal cement operate four cement plants with a total capacity of 8.5Mt/yr in Chakwal.

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh has issued a show cause notice to Adani Cement subsidiaries ACC and Ambuja Cements. The notice requires the producers to submit grounds for the government not to pursue 'appropriate administrative action' against the companies over the planned closures of their respective 4.4Mt/yr Gagal and 1.6Mt/yr Darlaghat cement plants. The administration says that it is prepared to take such action as is necessary to 'safeguard lives and livelihoods' across the various sectors impacted by the move.

The regional government said, "It is indeed alarming that you have not taken the state government or its functionaries into confidence before taking such a major decision involving the lives and livelihoods of so many stakeholders. Moreover, you have not even tried to approach or exhaust various forums, avenues, or channels available with the state machinery in order to resolve whatever concerns, grievances or issues that they might have."

The state of Himachal Pradesh owns the land on which the Gagal and Darlaghat cement plants are built and the associated limestone reserves.

India: The government is planning to introduce new quality standards for cement. Reuters has reported that the central government plans to implement the change before the end of December 2022. A government source said "Better standards help comply with international standards." It hopes that the cement sector will increase its export opportunities as a result.