Malaysia: Cahya Mata Sarawak says that it has no plan to double the capacity of its Bintulu, Sarawak, grinding plant, Reuters News has reported. The company, however, noted the potential ‘opportunity’ offered by the construction of a new Indonesian capital in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on the opposite side of Borneo.
Lafarge Canada secures government funding for Exshaw cement plant carbon capture installation 21 July 2022
Canada: The provincial government of Alberta has signed a contribution agreement for US$3.87m in funding towards Lafarge Canada’s planned carbon capture installation at its Exshaw cement plant. The cost of the system is US$20.9m. Offshore Energy News has reported that it is one of 11 carbon capture projects in the province which Alberta Minister of Energy Sonya Savage said will be operational by 2030. Ultimately, project partners plan to establish a CO2 sequestration hub and transport network connecting the capture sites of various industry partners.
India: Sagar Cement’s net sales were US$69.8m in the first quarter of the 2023 Indian financial year, up by 42% year-on-year from US$49.1m in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year. The quarter, which ended on 30 June 2022, saw an 82% year-on-year increase in costs to US$72.7m from US$40.1m. As a result, the company recorded a net loss for the quarter of US$1.64m, compared to a net profit of US$6.08m in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year.
Colombia: Federación Interamericana del Cemento (FICEM) and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) have announced their next steps to accelerate the decarbonisation of cement production in Latin America and the Caribbean. The partners have named Colombia as the region’s first Net Zero Accelerator host country. The initiative works to identify barriers to decarbonisation and to recommend policy changes to make an immediate impact. Along with fellow Net Zero Accelerator host countries Egypt, India and Thailand, Colombia brings the total coverage of the initiative to 10% of global cement capacity.
GCCA chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said “The urgency of addressing climate change becomes clearer every day. Last year, our industry made a breakthrough Net Zero global commitment to reduce our carbon footprint, and we are now driving action in Latin America to make real change in one of the regions predicted to use the most concrete and cement in the coming decades. Our Roadmap Accelerator programme, previewed today by our members and affiliate (FICEM) at Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week, highlights the tailored policies and tools we will use to ensure that Net Zero concrete and cement is achieved by 2050.”
St Mary’s Cement obtains extension for McInnis cement plant dust emissions compliance order 21 July 2022
Canada: The Canadian government’s Environment and Climate Change department has granted an extension to St Mary’s Cement to an order regarding alleged sticky dust emissions from its McInnis cement plant. The Journal de Québec newspaper has reported that the producer now has until 8 August 2022 to submit its observations on the situation. Environment and Climate Change Canada has identified 12 different equipment failures as contributors to the alleged illegal emissions. On 20 July 2022, it had received a total of 80 reports from the public about the situation.
India: Visaka Industries commissioned its Udumalpet cement panel plant in Tamil Nadu’s Tirpur district on 20 July 2022. Capital Market News has reported that the plant has a capacity of 10,000t/yr.
India: Ambuja Cements' sales were US$495m in the first quarter of its 2023 financial year, up by 18% year-on-year from first-quarter 2022 financial year levels. Its net profit rose by 45% to US$131m from US$90.4m.The company said that it experienced rising fuel prices and related inflationary impacts during the quarter. It mitigated their impacts through the improved efficiencies delivered under its I Can operating strategy. Meanwhile, its master supply agreement with ACC also helped to restrict growth in transport costs.
Holcim India chief executive officer (CEO) and Ambuja Cements managing director and CEO Neeraj Akhoury said "Ambuja has recorded robust volume growth of 15% and top line growth of 18%. Ambuja Kawach, our green cement, demonstrated a sales growth of 22% year on year."
El Salvador: Holcim El Salvador has officially inaugurated an upgrade to its Maya cement plant. The company has invested US$11.6m towards increasing clinker production capacity by 0.45Mt/yr at the unit. Total cement production capacity of the plant has increased to 1.9Mt/yr from 1.2Mt/yr previously. The Maya cement plant previously reduced production levels significantly in 2008 in response to the global financial crisis at the same time. Oliver Osswald, Region Head of Holcim LATAM, attended the inauguration. The event was also used to launch Holcim’s new corporate branding in the region.
Lehigh Cement’s Union Bridge plant to switch to Portland limestone cement production by 2023 20 July 2022
US: Lehigh Hanson’s Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge, Maryland plans to fully switch from Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to Portland limestone cement (PLC) production by January 2023. It will manufacture its EcoCemPLC product. The company says that the Union Bridge plant is currently the company’s largest cement plant in North America.
The decision to move to PLC follows similar changes at the company’s Mason City plant in Iowa and three cement plants in Indiana. Lehigh Hanson produced over 2Mt of PLC in 2021 and it says it is set to double this figure in 2022.
US: Dome Technology has commissioned a 169,000t dome at Lehigh Cement's Mitchell cement plant in Indiana. The dome is equipped with three reclaim tunnels, enabling 83% live reclaim.
Dome Technology sales manager Lane Robertssaid “It’s a colossal project. It’s one of our bigger domes as far as storage capacity goes."
