Displaying items by tag: GCW235
Russia: Sberbank CIB, the investment banking arm of Russian lender Sberbank, has announced that it holds 6% of LafargeHolcim following a repurchase deal with Eurocement. Under the terms of the agreement, Sberbank CIB had organised financing for Eurocement Holding AG in return for 37m shares in LafargeHolcim. Eurocement has the right to buy back the shares at a specific price and on a certain date.
The agreement was implemented on 21 January 2016. No further details were disclosed. Before the repurchase deal Eurocement was among the largest shareholders of LafargeHolcim.
Song Lam cement plant orders four Loesche mills
25 January 2016Vietnam: The Song Lam cement plant has ordered four Loesche mills via Sinoma. The greenfield project is being organised by the Hoang Phat Vissai Group Company.
Two type LM 60.6 Loesche mills have been ordered to grind raw material to a fineness of 12% R90μ, with a capacity of 2 x 520t/hour and a gearbox power of 4600kW. Metal detectors and sealing air fans are also included in the scope of supply. The lead time for the main components of the mill and for the additional units included in the scope of supply is 10 months. The commissioning of the vertical roller mills is planned for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Two type LM 63.3+3 CS Loesche mills have been ordered to grind clinker. These mills are designed with a capacity of 300t/hour Ordinary Portland Cement in order to grind the material to a fineness of 4000 Blaine. The gearboxes of these mills each have a power of 7000 kW.
Ghanaian cement producers praise higher Freight on Board value
25 January 2016Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturers Association (GCMA) has praised the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for introducing a Freight on Board (FOB) value of US$60/t for cement, a rise from US$26/t previously. The GRA has been investigating allegations of under-declaration in the cost and freight value for imported bagged cement from China, according to local press.
"We commend the GRA for playing a vital role in this adjustment, and urge its sustenance in order to maximise revenue as well as protect the local cement industry," said George Dawson-Ahmoah, chairman of the GCMA. The GCMA maintains that imported bagged cement into Ghana is unnecessary give the country's surplus of locally manufactured cement. Members of the GCMA include Ghacem Limited, Diamond Cement, Savanna Diamond Cement and Western Diamond Cement.
Essroc Cement Speed plant to hold public hearing on waste fuels
25 January 2016US: The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold a public hearing about the use of liquid waste-derived fuel at the Essroc Cement Speed plant. Essroc Cement is applying for a state environmental permit to burn liquid waste-derived fuel in one of its cement kilns in the unincorporated Clark County community of Speed. Residents have expressed concerns about the plants. No date for the meeting has been set, according to Associated Press.
Mike McHugh, the Speed plant's director, said Essroc plans to use products mostly from the petroleum industry, such as paint thinners, antifreeze and acetone. The plant will have to build two small storage facilities for it to start replacing about 25 – 30% of the coal it burns with liquid waste-derived fuel.
Essroc Corporate Environmental Engineer Luis Rodriguez said the company welcomes the public's questions. The company hosted an open house and talked with community leaders in 2014 before it submitted its application. "We actually want it to go to public comment so we can answer some of these questions... We've wanted to be as upfront on this as possible," said Rodriguez.
China: China has decided to implement a tiered electricity pricing system for the cement plants to promote 'structural adjustment' in the cement industry, according to a circular released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) according to Chinese state news.
The tiered electricity pricing system for the domestic cement industry will be based on comprehensive electricity consumption of clinker (cement) and implemented on an annual basis from 1 January to 31 December. Local governments will also be able to implement the system and raise the electricity prices for cement plants.
Kiran Global launches environment-friendly cement
22 January 2016India: Kiran Global Chems has launched Geocement, an environmentally-friendly branded cement. The company claims that the product is stronger than Ordinary Portland Cement and that it does not require water for mixing or curing, according to local media.
Geocement is made from Geopowder and Geobinder, other products also made by Kiran Global Chems. Geopowder uses industrial by-products such as fly ash, rice husk ash, slag, activated clay and alumina. At construction sites it can be mixed with the company's proprietary Geobinder liquid and aggregates to make concrete. The company claims that Geocement does not require water curing and attains maximum strength within seven hours. Kiran Global Chems has also launched Geocrete, a Geocement concrete made with its powder and binder for various industrial applications.
"We have started distributing this to the bulk customers, such as builders and now we are launching the brand for retail. We are planning to sell it through e-commerce," said M S Jain, chairman of Kiran Global Chems. The price of Geocement will be slightly higher than normal cement, but it promises lower finished building cost and less construction time and labour. The company intends to target southern Indian states in 2016.
Kiran Global is also preparing a US$29m expansion programme to set up 12 Geobinder units, 12 Geopowder plants, two precast concrete units and four grinding units across the country. The expansion, is intended to cut logistics cost, will result in 4Mt of capacity with a potential turnover of up to US$300m by the 2018 – 2019 financial year. The company has an in-house research and development centre, accredited by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, and has been conducting geopolymer research in collaboration with leading research institutes.
Aşkale Çimento orders KHD grinding units for two plants
22 January 2016Turkey: Aşkale Çimento has placed orders with KHD for new cement grinding systems at cement plants in Akoluk and Bilecik. Commissioning of both COMFLEX® systems is planned for the first part of 2017.
At Akoluk the new COMFLEX system will be installed in front of a new 100t/hour ball mill. At Bilecik the COMFLEX unit will allow Aşkale Çimento to increase the existing capacity from 100t/hour to 210t/hour at 3800 blaine. Between 2006 and 2011 KHD supplied three kiln lines to Aşkale plants in Askale, Van and Gümüshane.
KHD's scope includes engineering as well as the supply of mechanical and electrical equipment. KHD will also supervise erection and commissioning of the new systems.
The core equipment of the COMFLEX SC16-3500 clinker grinding system includes: Roller Press RPS 16-170/180 with ROLCOX® system for control and monitoring; Cascade separator, type VS 618 as static classifier; High efficiency separator SEPMASTER, type SKS-VC 3500 as dynamic classifier; System fan HKSK 212/275.
With this new order KHD has now sold six COMFLEX plants in Turkey. Other COMFLEX systems are in operation in Denizli, KCS, Aslan and Batisöke.
Vietnam: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has demanded that rice growers do not use cement as a fertiliser for their fields, state media has reported. The announcement follows local media reports that some farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap were using cement on their rice fields. In a letter sent to local Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Crop Cultivation Department asked local authorities to prevent cement being used in this way because it has no nutrition value for rice and it make soil unviable for crop cultivation.
Lafarge Halla Cement up for sale
21 January 2016South Korea: Glenwood Private Equity, a South Korean investment company, is in talks to buy Lafarge Halla Cement for US$497m. The private equity fund is in talks to buy the cement company in cooperation with Eugene Group, the country's largest ready-mixed concrete manufacturer, and Sungshin Cement, another Korean cement maker, according to sources cited by the Maeil Business Newspaper.
If the sale completes it will make Sungshin Cement the country's largest cement producer. At present Lafarge Halla Cement is the fourth largest producer with 12.1% of the market. The current market leader, Ssangyong Cement Industry, holds 19.8% of the market. Sungshin Cement could also benefit from buying Lafarge Halla Cement due to the company's diverse locations.
Lafarge Halla Cement was acquired by Lafarge in 2000 and is wholly owned by LafargeHolcim. Lafarge Halla Cement recorded US$367m in sales and US$30m in operating income in 2014.
Nepal: Cement producers have suggested that consumers wait for cement prices to fall before they build new homes. Bishnu Prasd Neupane, managing director of Jagadamba Cement, made the comment at a forum organised and reported upon by Nepal Republic Media. He said that end users could benefit from the fall in the international price of crude oil. A drop in fuel prices is expected to cut transport and production costs. Overall, the price of construction materials could drop by 20%.
Tara Prasad Pokharel, general secretary of Cement Manufacturer's Association Nepal (CMAN), asked customers not to pay more than a transportation cost of more than US$1.4/bag or more than 20% dealer costs on top of factory prices. The retail price of cement has increased by more than 50% due to high transportation costs caused by fuels shortages.
"The price of diesel is expected to come down to US$0.55/litre from US$0.69/litre. It will obviously lower our cost of production," said Pashupati Murarka, promoter of Arghakhanchi Cement and also the president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Use of diesel-run generators increases the price of cement by around US$0.74/bag at current oil prices. Use of the country's national grid increases is also expected to cut the cost of production significantly.