Displaying items by tag: Cemex

France: The SOLPART (Solar-Heated Reactors for Industrials Production of Reactive Particulates) project plans to test a pilot-scale version of its solar reactor from February 2019. The 50kW solar reactor will test a fluidised bed system at its PROMES (PROcédés, Materials and Solar Energy) testing site in Odeillo. The ultimate goal of the project is to test using a rotary kiln and a fluidised bed system to produce cement, lime, gypsum and other non-metallic products using only solar energy. The pilot scale reactor will test calcining limestone at a rate of 50kg/hr. Industrial partners involved with the project include Cemex.

UK: Cemex says that it will use 100% renewable electricity at supplied sites in a partnership with energy, services and regeneration group Engie. Engie has been providing electricity to over 150 Cemex UK sites for over 10 years, also supplying gas to 33 of these sites. The current contract is to be extended for a further 12 months. All of the electricity supplied to the sites will be from 100% renewable energy sources including wind energy.

“Cement manufacture is inherently energy-intensive and we work hard to minimise energy consumption within the process constraints. The switch to electricity from renewable sources is playing a key role in our carbon reduction strategy,” said Martin Hills, Head of Energy and Carbon at Cemex in the UK.

Cemex is also using Engie’s demand side services, such as load management to avoid peak tariffs and rapid frequency response, which generates extra revenue for Cemex UK. Engie manages all contractual requirements with National Grid on Cemex UK’s behalf.

Barbados: The Caribbean Court Of Justice has ruled in favour of Trinidad Cement on maintaining a 60% tariff on imports of cement. The subsidiary of Mexico’s Cemex and its own subsidiary Arawak Cement complained that import company Rock Hard Cement was only being taxed by 5%, according to the Nation News newspaper. However, the case will continue as the ruling only refers to hydraulic cement. It is unclear what classification of cement that Rock Hard Cement is importing.

Philippines: Cemex Philippines has resumed operation of both kilns at its Barangay cement plant in Cebu. It also said that it would cancel the planned closure of its Davao terminal and a temporary layoff of workers, according to the Manila Standard newspaper. The cement producer said it made the decision to resume its Davao operations as it continued to cooperate with APO Land & Quarry, which is the company’s principal raw material provider, and the national and local authorities to address the situation in Naga City, Cebu. The company’s decision to scale back its operations in late November 2018 followed a suspension of APO Land and Quarry after a landslide.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement has taken out a five-year loan for US$3bn from the National Commercial Bank Jamaica to repay debt. It also said that some of the loan would be used for general corporate purposes, according in the Gleaner newspaper. The cement producer is also planning to expand its gypsum and limestone operations at two sites but it is unknown if the new borrowing will be used to fund this. The latest loan follows a US$102m loan from its parent company, Cemex España in June 2018.

Philippines: Solid Cement is using a US$75m loan from Cemex Asia to partly pay for a new production line at its plant in Antipolo, Rizal. The subsidiary of Cemex Holdings Philippines has made an initial withdrawal of around US$41m, according to the Manila Standard newspaper. The upgrade has a total cost of US$235m and it is scheduled completion in 2020. The new line will be supplied and built by China’s CBMI Construction.

UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has held its inaugural annual general meeting and symposium in London. Member companies ratified key deliverables for the association and set-out its priorities and work program. Albert Manifold, chief executive officer (CEO) of CRH, was confirmed as GCCA President and will serve for two years. Fernando A González, CEO of Cemex and Jianglin Cao, CEO of CNBM, were confirmed as Vice-Presidents.

The work program will focus on: position concrete as the sustainable building material of choice; promote international best practice in the areas of safety, production and the use of cement and concrete in the built environment; foster innovation in the cement and concrete sectors; make a positive contribution to global sustainable development; and promote the principles of a circular economy across the value chain.

“Concrete is the enabler of critical buildings and infrastructure that enhance the way we live – safe and durable homes, roads, hospitals, clean water, effective wastewater management, as well as providing the vital structures for the clean energy of tomorrow,” said Benjamin Sporton, the CEO of the GCCA.

The association was launched in January 2018. It represents 32 member companies with nine affiliate organisations. Its members hold 35% of global cement production.

Colombia/US: Edgar Ramírez, the former vice president of planning for Cemex in Colombia, has been summoned by the US judiciary in relation to the Maceo cement plant corruption case. Ramírez reportedly fled to the US following calls for his arrest in Colombia earlier in 2018, according to W Radio. Another suspect in the case - Eugenio Correa Díaz, the former representative of CI Calizas y Minerales, which sold the property to the cement producer, is also being questioned by the US authorities. Ramírez and accomplices allegedly paid over US$13m to Correa, despite being aware of the fact that the property was in the process of being expropriated over unpaid taxes.

Philippines: Cemex Philippines’ subsidiary APO Cement plans to close its Davao cement terminal and indefinitely suspend one of its kilns at its Barangay plant in Cebu. It said in a statement that it had taken this action due to uncertainty caused by the disruption to its raw material supply, according to GMA News. It follows the on-going suspension of APO Land and Quarry following a landslide in September 2018. APO Land & Quarry supplies raw materials to APO Cement.

Philippines: Apo Cement is preparing to temporarily lay-off up to 30% of its employees and 40% of its contractors. It has filed a formal notice detailing its intentions with the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas, according to the Philippines News Agency. It says it has been forced into reducing its workforce in response to the on-going suspension of Apo Land and Quarry following landslides in September 2018. APO Land & Quarry supplies raw materials to CHP’s subsidiary Apo Cement, and it is indirectly 40% owned by Mexico’s Cemex.