Displaying items by tag: Cemex

Mexico: Cemex’s CEO Fernando González joined a panel of other business representatives at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly on 18 September 2023. The United Nations Global Compact, the UN’s 9500 member-strong stakeholder platform for sustainable business, hosted the panel. González and fellow panellists discussed issues including sustainable finance, global fairness and the effects of climate change.

González said “Our company is committed to building a better future: one that is more sustainable, circular and creates a supportive environment for people to thrive. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a great blueprint to effect this change, but progress is not happening fast enough. The public and private sectors must join to map an equitable transition to the sustainable world of tomorrow.”

Cemex is an Early Mover in the UN’s Forward Faster climate change accountability initiative and co-leads the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Supplier Impact Programme in support of small and medium-sized enterprises’ sustainability transition.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement plans to launch an upgrade to expand its Rockfort cement plant’s capacity by 30% to 1.3Mt/yr in October 2023. The producer says that the expansion will cost US$40m and that the new capacity will come online in early 2025. The work will include enlargements of multiple kiln sections and the installation of a new coal dosing system, clinker cooler and clinker transport system.

UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has appointed Lex Russell as its chair for a two-year period. He succeeds Simon Willis, the head of Hanson UK, who has been in post for three years.

Russell is the managing director of Cemex UK Materials. He has worked in the building materials industry for 40 years, initially starting in 1984 with Scotland-based quarrying and concrete product company Alexander Russell, holding a variety of operational and technical roles. In 1989 he joined RMC’s technical department before progressing through the organisation as Quarry Manager, Operations Manager, Business Manager and director.

In 2005 RMC was acquired by Cemex and two years later Russell moved to Australia to lead a team in the post-merger integration of Rinker, acquired by Cemex in 2007. He returned to the UK as Vice President before becoming managing director of the Cemex UK Materials business in 2018.

Europe: Six cement plants were reportedly issued around Euro88m in free European Union emissions allowances (EUA) from 2019 to 2022 despite the clinker kilns at the units being idle or running at low levels. Research by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) has revealed that plants operated by Buzzi, Cementos Portland Valderrivas (CPV), Cemex, Holcim and Votorantim Cimentos all benefited from the scheme despite only emitting 36,370t of CO2. The companies would then have been able to use the subsidy to cover emissions costs at other plants or sell the permits. OPIS identified five plants in Spain and one in Germany.

Dominican Republic: Cemex is considering selling its subsidiary Cemex Dominicana according to Bloomberg. The Mexico-based group is reportedly working with JPMorgan Chase & Co on a potential divestment worth over US$1bn. Proceedings are at an early stage, with Cemex starting to talk to interested parties to assess potential interest.

Cemex has been operating in the Dominican Republic since 1995 when it acquired Cementos Nacionales. It runs the integrated 2.4Mt/yr San Pedro de Macorís cement plant. It also has ten concrete plants, three sea terminals, two aggregate quarries and a gypsum mine. It employs 1500 people directly. Cemex sold its subsidiaries in Costa Rica and El Salvador to Cementos Progreso for US$329m in 2022.

Spain: Cemex España has bought two new quarries near Madrid. The producer said that the quarries will strengthen its limestone reserves. It added that they include ‘all necessary elements’ for it to increase its services to the Madrid market.

Cemex’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia regional president Sergio Menéndez said “These acquisitions strengthen our existing network and enable us to better serve a growing market with high-quality, sustainable and circular products. We are excited to be part of Madrid’s growth, which contributes to improving the quality of life of its residents and setting an example for more sustainable and circular cities.”

Mexico: Construction activity grew by 29% year-on-year during the first half of 2023. Local press has reported that this is its sharpest increase since reporting began in 2006. Major infrastructure projects reportedly drove the growth. These include the Mayan Train, Isthmus Train and Mexico-Toluca Interurban Train railway projects and the Olmeca oil refinery project.

As a result, Cemex and GCCs’ share prices have been the fastest and seventh fastest growing respectively on the main index of the Mexican Stock Exchange.

Mexico: Cemex Mexico subsitituted 36% of it cement fuel with alternative fuel (AF) in 2022. This exceeds the Mexican cement industry’s target for 2030, of 32%. Mexico Business News has reported that the producer used 1.05Mt of AF across its operations. This reduced its CO₂ emissions by 1.8Mt, and prevented 850,000t of methane emissions from being generated in landfill. Cemex Mexico’s Huichapan cement plant in Hidalgo set the company record for the year, with 207,000t of AF co-processed in its cement production. It produced 3.2Mt of cement for the Bajio, Central, Central-North, Laguna and Southeast Mexico markets.

Sustainability Manager Carlos Medina said "Last year’s results motivate us to intensify our efforts and uphold good practices that benefit communities and the environment. We will keep promoting environmentally friendly solutions in all our operations, as we are convinced that all social actors must collaborate to lay the foundations for a better future."

Mexico: Cemex has updated its sustainability-linked financing framework in line with its latest emissions reduction targets of 475kg/t of CO₂ per tonne of cementitious material. Under the new framework, Cemex will issue up to US$350m-worth of sustainability-linked bonds on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The group plans to use the funds to refinance debt, as well as for ‘general corporate purposes.’ It aims to acheive 85% sustainability-linked financing by 2030.

Cemex said "The proceeds will be used exclusively for eligible green projects in pollution prevention and control, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable water and wastewater management, production technologies and processes adapted to the circular economy and/or eco-efficient products.”

Spain: Residents of Cartagena, Murcia, have protested Cemex’s plans to begin mining pozzolan at new sites locally. The Murcia Plaza newspaper has reported that the protestors are calling for a mining ban, in line with their interpretation of the area’s Rural Area of Special Environmental and Social Sensitivity designation.