07 March 2023

France: CRH subsidiary Eqiom expects to complete its carbon capture system installation and kiln upgrade at its Lumbres cement plant under the EU's K6 Programme in early 2028. The project uses Air Liquide's capture technology, whereby purified CO₂ is liquefied for storage or use in building materials production.

Pakistan: Dandot Cement recorded a net loss after taxation of US$463,000 during the first six months of the 2023 financial year. This corresponds to a year-on-year rise of 8% from US$429,000 in the first half of the 2022 financial year. Its finance costs rose by 10% to US$437,000, while its administrative expenses fell by 18% to US$71,400.

The producer's 0.5Mt/yr Lahore cement plant closed in 2019 for a 'balancing, modernisation and replacement' upgrade. Dandot Cement says that the on-going project is on schedule for completion before the end of the current Pakistani financial year on 30 June 2023. The company anticipates a rise in domestic cement demand due to new infrastructure projects and the renovation of existing infrastructure. However, it noted several principal risks and uncertainties, namely rising coal, diesel and electricity prices, rising interest rates, currency devaluation and current overcapacity in the Pakistani cement industry.

Oman: Oman Cement Company recorded cement sales worth US$173m in 2022. This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 42% from US$122m in 2021. Its cement sales volumes were 3.46Mt, up by 45% from 2.39Mt.

Chair Rashid bin Sultan al Hashmi said "The company has produced and sold record quantities of cement during the period to help the nation and the consumers in overcoming a scarcity created by various challenges faced by consumers due to short supply of cement from other manufacturers and prevailing global macroeconomic trends."

CEO Salim Abdullah al Hajri added a note of caution, saying "Though the demand for cement in Oman continues to remain reasonably stable and is expected to remain at 2022 levels, unreasonably low priced cement being supplied by competitors remains a major challenge, and the company will continue to monitor the market situation."

The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported that Oman Cement Company is in the process of selecting a contractor for an expansion to its Misfah cement plant. The project will increase the plant's capacity by 25% to 5000t/day from 4000t/day across its three production lines. The producer subsequently plans to build an additional line at the plant, which will triple its capacity to 15,000t/day. Meanwhile, plans for a new 5000t/day cement plant at Duqm are currently under review. The company is in discussions with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) to 'explore alternatives,' including possible relocation of the site of the plant, due to 'issues in the supply of gas.'

Jamaica: Cemex subsidiary Caribbean Cement has co-processed 1t of waste at its Rockfort cement plant under the National Environment and Planning Agency's Adopt-a-Beach programme. Since July 2022, the producer has also recovered 500kg of recyclable materials for processing by its partners. The Our Today newspaper has reported that the cement company has carried out three cleans of its adopted beach, Sirgany Beach, to date.

Mexico: Cemex raised US$5.8m dollars from bond repurchases in 2022. Noticias Financieras News has reported that the producer paid US$65.2m for tender offers and other market operations over the same period.