August 2025

Nigeria: Dangote Group has resumed construction of a 6Mt/yr cement plant in Itori, Ogun State, according to Business Insider Africa. Itori is 10km from Ewekoro, the site of a 3.9Mt/yr plant owned by Lafarge Africa. Construction of the plant is expected to be completed by November 2026. The company will also build ‘Nigeria’s largest seaport’ at the Olokola Free Trade Zone, also in Ogun State. The plant will have two lines and sits on 533 hectares of land.

Ogun State is already home to the 12Mt/yr Dangote Cement Plant in Ibese. Upon completion of the Itori project, the state’s total cement production capacity will reach 18Mt/yr. Dangote Cement reportedly has a production capacity of 52Mt/yr across Africa, with 70% of production in Nigeria.

Aliko Dangote said “We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone but, because of governor Dapo Abiodun’s policies and investor-friendly environment, we are back and will work with the government to return to Olokola. Plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”

He said that the nearly US$800m Itori cement plant should have been completed earlier, but was delayed due to opposition from former governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Japan: Mitsubishi UBE Cement Corporation has started a commercial-scale demonstration test using ammonia as a heat energy source in a cement kiln and calciner at Ube cement plant.

The project, supported by Yamaguchi Prefecture’s 2023 Carbon Neutral Complex Development Promotion Subsidy, follows an ammonia co-combustion test in 2023. In collaboration with UBE Corporation, a test facility for ammonia co-firing was installed.

The company has set a target of replacing 30% of its coal consumption with ammonia in the cement kiln, with similar levels targeted for the calciner by the end of the 2025 financial year. Mitsubishi UBE Cement is also planning further ammonia combustion tests with post-consumer plastics and other materials as energy sources.

Egypt: Arabian Cement Company has signed a 30-year power purchase agreement with IRSC for renewable electricity. The deal covers the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of the second phase of the firm’s solar power plant. The plant will have a total capacity of 17.6MW and is expected to produce 32.5GW/yr of electricity.

India: Dalmia Bharat has commenced commercial production at its expanded cement grinding facility in Lanka, Hojai district, Assam. The expansion by subsidiary Dalmia Cement (North East) has added 2.4Mt/yr to the company’s total production capacity, which has now reached 49Mt/yr. Capacity utilisation stands at 60% on a pro-rata basis. The expansion cost US$80.4m, funded through equity, debt and internal accruals. The additional output is expected to meet rising cement demand in the northeastern region.

UK: Aggregate Industries has rebranded as Holcim UK. The company operates over 200 sites across the UK with 4000 employees. Following 20 years as a UK-based subsidiary of Holcim Group, the new direction sees the business align more closely with its Swiss-based parent company, which operates across 70 countries and employs over 60,000 people worldwide.

Holcim UK CEO Lee Sleight said “Our evolution from Aggregate Industries to Holcim UK is much more than a rebrand. It represents a commitment to leading the sector towards a more sustainable future through a commitment to innovation and collaboration.”

Egypt: Sinai Cement reported a net profit of US$60.7m in 2024, compared to a net loss of US$2.40m in 2023. Net sales rose to US$127m in 2024 from US$84.7m in 2023. Non-consolidated net profit reached US$60.7m, compared to a loss of US$2.32m in 2023.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Heidelberg Materials Cement BiH recorded a net profit of US$28.2m in 2024, up by 37% year-on-year. Total sales rose by 25% to US$99.9m. Domestic sales revenue increased by 30% to US$62.7m, while foreign market sales rose by 36% to US$4.5m, the company said in its annual report.

India: Swachha Andhra Co. chair K Pattabhiram and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board chair P Krishnaiah said cement manufacturers must use refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in kilns as per the Solid Waste Management rules issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2018. The regulation requires a minimum RDF usage of 15% to reduce coal consumption in cement production.

Pattabhiram said 7000t of waste is generated daily from 123 urban local bodies, and stressed the need for daily processing to eliminate dumping yards. He urged cement plants within 400km of municipalities to comply. Krishnaiah added that a joint technical committee would be formed to assist cement producers in implementing the rule.

Kyrgyzstan: Cement imports rose by 330% year-on-year to 38,000t in January 2025, according to the National Statistics Committee. Kazakhstan supplied 24,700t, Uzbekistan 13,100t and Iran 189t. Total cement imports in 2024 increased by 220% to 0.5Mt, while domestic production rose by 4.3% to 3.1Mt.

Vietnam: Xuan Son Group held the launch ceremony for Xuan Son Cement at the Xuan Son cement plant in Hoa Binh province on 21 February 2025. The plant spans 40 hectares, with a US$196m investment and a production capacity of 3.5Mt/yr. The plant integrates Polysius grinding technology, Flender transmission systems, Haver & Boecker automated packaging technology and electrical equipment and motors from Pfeiffer, Vacuum and ABB. Heat consumption is below 680kCal/kg of clinker, and electricity consumption is under 71kW/t of cement, according to the company. The plant uses refuse-derived fuel in the kiln, as well as waste heat recovery to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. It aims for zero NO_x and CO₂ emissions.