01 June 2023

India: Shiva Cement has commissioned its new US$185m Sundergarh cement plant in Odisha. Pragativadi News has reported that the new plant has an integrated capacity of 1.05Mt/yr and an additional grinding capacity of 0.27Mt/yr.

In October 2022, parent company JSW Cement announced plans to increase its total installed capacity by 47% to 25Mt/yr.

India: Adani Group plans to grow ACC and Ambuja Cements' capacity to 140Mt/yr by 2028 under a joint expansion strategy. The Hindu newspaper has reported that new strategy includes capital expenditure with a value of US$5.58bn and new acquisitions. Investments will reportedly be split equally between the two subsidiaries. After completion of the current growth plan, the cement producers will 'pause for a while' prior to any subsequent expansion phase.

Adani Group said that it is proceeding with an operational merger of ACC and Ambuja Cements, without merging their distinct brands. The priority of the merger will be to increase efficiency in supply chains and logistics operations.

Canada: The district council of Capital Regional District (CRD) says that it expects to resume sending biosolids to Lafarge Canada's Richmond cement plant in early June 2023. This follows a reported reduction in production at the unit in 2023 and 2022, according to the Times Colonist newspaper. The 1.1Mt/yr cement plant previously used biosolids supplied by the CRD as an alternative fuel in its cement production. However, during the current hiatus the biosolids have been sent to landfill instead.

The Richmond cement plant is the site of the CO₂MENT carbon capture and utilisation project. The project proceeded to its third phase, which consists of a capture capacity expansion and the installation of a liquefaction plant, in May 2023.

US: Denmark-based FLSmidth has acquired heavy-duty rubber products company Morse Rubber. Morse Rubber's competences include advanced moulding capabilities for rubber and composite mill liners, as well as screen media and various rubber and rubber ceramic wear components. FLSmidth says that the acquisition supports its growth strategy by strengthening its offering of mill liners, where FLSmidth has been capacity constrained in some regions.

FLSmidth's service line president Joshua Meyer said “With this acquisition we will be able to offer cost and quality competitive mill liners combined with local presence, local production and proximity to our North American and Latin American customers."

UK: CRH subsidiary Tarmac has pledged its support to the Route to Net Zero initiative to decarbonise the UK's logistics sector. Under the initiative, companies involved in transportation will implement changes aimed at achieving net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. Tarmac already transports 9Mt/yr of materials around the UK by rail.

Tarmac's logistics director Graham Waters said “Signing up to Logistics UK’s Route to Net Zero pledge marks a further step for our business, underscoring our commitment to eliminating carbon emissions from our extensive UK-wide logistics networks and accelerating this process through collaboration with our haulier partners and the wider industry."

Germany: Global Cement is attending Powtech 2023 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, on 26 – 28 September 2023. Powtech is the International Processing Trade Fair for powder, bulk solids, fluids and liquids. Find us at Stand 2-524 in Hall 2.