17 December 2024

Mozambique: President Filipe Nyusi has inaugurated a grinding plant in Niassa Province, northern Mozambique, valued at US$20m. The plant has the capacity to produce 0.2Mt/yr of Portland cement, according to Club of Mozambique news.

Nyusi said the plant would supply Niassa and neighbouring provinces, including Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Tete, improving competitiveness in the northern market and reducing reliance on imports impacted by exchange rates. The plant is expected to lower market and transport costs, particularly for remote districts.

Present Nyusi said “It [the plant] already has 100 workers, which means that 500 people will benefit directly from this plant in terms of income, and many more will benefit indirectly.”

The first stone for the construction of the plant was laid back in October 2018 by former Niassa governor Arlindo Chilundo.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement Company has reached a milestone in its kiln expansion project with the installation of a 160t-capacity surge bin and solid fuel equipment.

The development ensures a stable and increased fuel supply to the kiln during cement production, according to Loop News.

Jorge Martinez, managing director of Caribbean Cement, said “The successful installation marks a significant step forward in enhancing our production capabilities. This investment is a main milestone of the expansion project to be completed in the first half of 2025 with the aim of increasing the efficiency and stability of our operations. It also demonstrates our commitment to meeting the local demand for cement.”

India: UltraTech Cement has begun transporting mineral gypsum via National Waterway 1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system) in a pilot project supported by the Inland Waterways Authority of India and Inland & Coastal Shipping, a Shipping Corporation of India subsidiary.

The consignment is being shipped from Haldia port, West Bengal, to the Gaighat terminal in Patna, Bihar. It will then be transported to UltraTech’s Pataliputra Cement Works grinding unit in Bihar. UltraTech is reportedly the first Indian cement company to utilise National Waterway 1 for large-scale gypsum transport, with the aim to cut CO₂ emissions and ease congestion on roads and railways.

Vietnam: Vietnam National Cement Corporation (Vicem) has reported consolidated losses for the second consecutive year, of US$55.15m, according to a draft annual report by the Ministry of Construction. Vicem is the only company among six under the ministry to report losses in 2024, with a consolidated loss of US$55.15m due to ‘unfavourable market conditions’, according to The Investor magazine. Its parent company’s loss reached US$9.33m. In 2023, it reported its first-ever loss of US$44.5m amid a drop in demand following the 2016 economic slowdown. By the end of 2023, cumulative losses reached US$88.24m.

The Ministry of Finance's inspection department recently highlighted capital loss risks in Vicem’s subsidiary investments, requiring provisions exceeding US$118.2m. Inspectors have urged the company to assess the financial performance of underperforming businesses.