Displaying items by tag: Asia

Bangladesh: Chhatak Cement Factory has ceased production due to severe gas and limestone shortages, despite a modernisation project having reached 91% completion.

The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) began a US$54.7m project to convert the plant’s production process from wet to dry in 2016, in order to increase capacity to 1500t/day (0.45Mt/yr). The project cost rose to US$116m, with US$68m spent by November 2024. However, the plant remains idle despite the completion of construction works over a year ago, due to the lack of a new gas pipeline and ropeway to import limestone from India. This ropeway was supposed to transport limestone from the Komorrah Limestone Mining Company in Meghalaya.

The project's committee has proposed extending the deadline to June 2026 and allocating an additional US$25m for a 43km gas pipeline from Sylhet to Chhatak. Trial runs are now being conducted every 15 days in order to prevent the plant’s machinery from rusting.

Project director Abdur Rahman Badsha said that the Chinese contractor responsible for the ropeway construction, Nanjing C-Hope Cement Engineering Group, is awaiting a subcontracting agreement with KLMC to begin work in India.

India: Star Cement will build a US$367m integrated cement plant in Assam.

The producer signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government on 26 February 2025, the final day of the Advantage Assam business summit. The summit attracted 164 investment proposals across 15 sectors on its opening day.

India: UltraTech Cement's board has approved the separation of Kesoram Industries' cement business, effective from 1 March 2025. Under this plan, Kesoram Industries cement business will join UltraTech Cement.

The producer will issue one equity share of US$0.11 for every 52 Kesoram Industries shares. The merger will increase UltraTech Cement's production capacity by 7Mt/yr. The companies' boards first approved the merger on 30 November 2023, with the demerger previously scheduled for November 2024.

Turkmenistan: Lebap cement plant produced 112,000t of cement in January 2025, up by 72% year-on-year, according to Trend.

The producer said that it has implemented ‘modern technologies’ to ensure a steady supply of cement for construction, and uses local raw materials to decrease prices. It reportedly exported 108,000t of cement to Uzbekistan in 2023.

India: Prism Johnson recorded a 4% year-on-year decline in its nine-month sales, from US$632m in its 2024 financial year to US$607m in its 2025 financial year. Its net loss was US$8.6m, compared to a US$22m profit in the previous financial year.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) plans to expand its cement plant in Mylavaram, Andhra Pradesh. The producer will invest US$321m to to more than double the plant’s clinker capacity from 4.6Mt/yr to 12.6Mt/yr, its cement grinding capacity from 2.6Mt/yr to 7.6Mt/yr and its waste heat recovery capacity from 12MW to 28MW.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board will hold a public hearing on 27 March 2025 over the plans, the New Indian Express newspaper has reported. Local residents have raised allegedly ‘unaddressed’ issues, including disruptions to watercourses, increased dust pollution and possible structural damage from increased blasting.

India: The Adani Group has launched new investment plans in the states of Assam and Madhya Pradesh, including in their cement sectors. Chair Gautam Adani says that the group will invest US$5.73bn in Assam and US$12.6bn in Madhya Pradesh. The Business Standard newspaper has reported that the latter investment will generate over 100,000 new jobs and involve the construction of a new smart city.

India: JSW Group is actively seeking investment opportunities in Assam’s cement sector. Besides cement production, the group is reportedly investigating power plant opportunities in the state.

The Business Standard newspaper has reported that JSW Group Chair Sajjan Jindal noted the strategic importance of North East India as one half of a ‘dual-engine’ Indian economy.

India: UltraTech Cement has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Department to process non-recyclable plastic waste at its Baga cement plant in Solan. The plant will process waste from Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Solan and Una districts. The Rural Development Department operates 29 plastic waste management units that will supply waste to the plant.

Myanmar: A vessel carrying 3000t of cement has arrived at Mottama Port, following the government's decision in January 2025 to permit cement imports in an effort to meet domestic demand for cement.

The shipment arrived on 21 February 2025 via the Kawthaung Border Trade Station to be distributed. Additional cement shipments will arrive weekly to address the domestic shortage, according to NP News. Myanmar's cement demand is reportedly 10Mt/yr, while domestic production is below 8Mt/yr.