Displaying items by tag: GCW215

Indonesia: PT Semen Tonasa's Unit IV cement plant in Biring Ere, Bungoro, Pangkejene Islands, South Sulawesi remains in normal operation despite the damage done by a fire on 19 August 2015. The fire lasted for two hours.

One employee was killed and 10 others were injured in the fire that broke out at the coal mill transport belt. The fire was believed to have been sparked in the coal by friction. Most of the injured suffered burns and wounds after leaping from a height. They are currently getting treatment at hospitals in Makassar and Pangkep. The deceased, identified only as Akbar, 25, of Pangkep, was buried on 20 September 2015.

PT Semen Tonasa managing director Unggul Attas confirmed that the fire did not affect operations at the plant. "The plant remains operating like usual and production is stable," said Unggul.

Rwanda: Rwanda's only cement manufacturer, Cimerwa, has inaugurated its new US$170m, 500,000t/yr capacity cement plant in Muganza, Rusizi. Its current plant produces 100,000t/yr.

Increasing production capacity makes it possible for the plant to export up to 30% of its total production to other countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. This is expected to drive sustainable economic development and poverty reduction. Exporting cement to neighbouring countries means that Rwanda will be able to reduce its trade deficit gap with at least an additional US$92m/yr in foreign revenues, according to the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR).

Rwanda's current cement demand is estimated at about 450,000t/yr. However, demand across the borders in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi is more than 900,000t/yr.

Legodi Busisiwe, the CEO of Cimerwa, said that the new plant would play a critical role in enhancing competitiveness of the local construction sector through reduced logistical costs. "The new plant seeks to bring on board high quality products that will help boost capacity of the country's infrastructure," he said.

The new plant comes at a time when the Government is trying to narrow the country's trade deficit gap by boosting its exports to the tune of at least 28%/yr. The country's trade deficit improved by 6% from US$723m in 2014 to US$6.78bn during the first five months of 2015. There is hope that cement exports could further narrow this gap.

There is hope among market players that increasing cement production will reduce the high prices of Cimerwa cement in the country. Ephraim Karekezi, a Kigali-based engineer, believes that the new plant will help bring down cement prices. "The cost of construction is high simply because of high prices of raw materials, including cement. Therefore, the new cement plant offers sector players the green light in addressing the question of affordability and propelling the sector towards economic excellence," said Karekezi.

Indonesia: PT Bhumiadya Indonesia, part of the Sibleco Group and a manufacturer of industrial minerals with 228 sites worldwide, has ordered a coal mill from Loesche for its new limestone plant in Bandung, Indonesia. The LM 17.20 D vertical roller mill grind 10t/hr of coal to a fineness of 10% R 90μm. The scope of supply also includes filters, blowers, a Loesche hot gas generator and inertisation flaps. The delivery of the mill key parts is scheduled to take place at the end of 2015.

Egypt: South Valley Cement has signed a US$34.7m contract with China's Sinoma for a new cement line.