Displaying items by tag: GCW582
Protests at Bestway plant in Hattar
08 November 2022Pakistan: Residents of Hattar have taken to the streets against outbreaks of various illnesses that they claim are due to pollution and the release of wastewater from Bestway Cement’s plant in Hattar. Protesters gathered outside the factory gates to lodge a strong protest and chanted slogans against the ‘anti-people policies’ of the factory management.
The protest was led by local councillor Sajjad Hussain Shah, Imran Ali Shah and Syed Zaheer Shah, who complained that the plant had blocked canal water, discharged chemically-contaminated water into sewage lines, illegally used union council roads and failed to act regarding quotas to employ local residents. The protesters claimed that ‘every second person’ in the area had fallen victim to asthma and that the canal blockage had brought locals the ‘gift of dengue fever,’ which spreads via flies in stagnant water.
The management of the plant said that any decision regarding the demands of the protesters could only be taken after getting approval from head office, issuing a statement that read, “We received a four-point formula from the protesters and assured them that their demands will be accepted. We will inform our head office regarding the whole situation. We hope that the issues will be settled soon.” This was countered by the protesters, who claim that several similar protests had gone unheeded in the past.
Heidelberg Materials ‘weathering’ high costs
07 November 2022Germany: Heidelberg Materials has reported that it has increased its revenue by 13% year-on-year to Euro15.8bn during the first nine months of 2022. It said that high energy and raw material costs seen during the third quarter were only partly offset. The group’s net result for the nine-month period showed a 6.1% decline to Euro2.72bn. The decline was also due to significantly higher energy prices and increased raw material costs, which Heidelberg Materials said could only be offset partially by energy savings, cost discipline and price increases.
In the first nine months of 2022, sales volumes in all business lines declined due to consolidation and the economic impact from the Russian-Ukraine war on the European economy. Cement and clinker sales reduced by 6% to 90.0Mt, compared to 95.7Mt in the first nine months of 2021. Heidelberg Materials cited capacity reduction in North America, specifically its Western US operations, and the economic downturn in Europe as factors. Excluding consolidation effects, cement and clinker sales were down by 3.8%.
Heidelberg Materials said that it forecasts increased revenue for 2022, which will be adversely affected by increased outgoings. It expects global demand for building materials to weaken slightly on the back of higher costs and inflationary pressures.
ACC to start additional solar project
07 November 2022Egypt: Arabian Cement Company (ACC) has signed an amendment to its 2019 contract with Amarenco SolarizEgypt (ASE) to establish a solar photovoltaic (PV) unit at its Suez plant. The amendment to the agreement aligns with updated regulations recently issued by the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EgyptERA) to encourage and support self-built solar energy projects as Egypt hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh.
ACC already generates 20.6MW of power from a solar PV plant, representing 3% of its total power needs and saving 5500t/yr of CO2. Construction of a second site, capable of saving 13,000t/yr of CO2, will now begin in early 2023. The actual commissioning and start-up of operations is expected in September 2023.
“As part of our sustainable development strategy, we are continually assessing opportunities to develop Egypt’s cement industry with projects that integrate sustainable and environment-friendly solutions and renewable energy resources given their significant environmental, social impact and on the economy at large,” said Sergio Alcantarilla, the chief executive officer of ACC.
South Valley Cement reduces its losses in first nine months
07 November 2022Egypt: South Valley Cement has posted a 41.5% year-on-year decline in its net loss after tax during the first nine months of 2022, according to a statement filed to the Egyptian Exchange. The company incurred a net loss of US$3.42m in the January - September period of 2022, compared to a loss of US$5.88m in the same period in 2021. Sales from its cement segment surged to US$25.2m from US$7.43m previously.
Holcim takes control of French limestone filler maker
07 November 2022France: Switzerland-based Holcim has taken control of Carbocia, a producer of limestone fillers based at the Marquise quarry basin in Hauts-de-France, via the acquisition of a 90% stake in the company. The acquisition provides the group with greater access to raw materials used in the manufacture of low and / or zero-CO2 cements and concretes.
"Micronised calcium carbonates make it possible to give compactness and resistance, in addition to reducing the share of the components of the cement most loaded with CO2," explained the president of Holcim France, François Petry. Holcim also hopes to maximise its new subsidiary’s expertise to take advantage ‘compatible deposits in France’ that it already owns. It plans to grow Carbocia’s output from 0.4Mt/yr at present to 0.6Mt/yr in 2024.
Paraguay: Cementos Concepción (CECON), a company belonging to the Cartes Group, has begun commissioning its US$300m cement plant in the Concepción Department. Test bags are currently being made, with commercial operations expected in late 2022 or early 2023.
Jorge Méndez, CECON's manager said that the test production represented an ‘historic day for the production of 100% Paraguayan cement.’ He added, “Cementos Concepción will bring many benefits to the country. Paraguay needs many infrastructure works, but the deficit of the lack of cement always played against us.”
The 1.0Mt/yr plant was built with the support of nine Paraguayan banks. Méndez emphasised that the cement plant is now generating labour in the ‘forgotten’ Department of Concepción.
Pakistan’s cement dispatches fall in October 2022
07 November 2022Pakistan: Cement dispatches declined by 18.5% year-on-year across Pakistan in October 2022, according to data from the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers’ Association (APCMA). Total cement dispatches during October 2022 were 4.25Mt, compared to 5.22Mt in October 2021. Local dispatches fell by 3.98Mt in October 2022 from 4.60Mt in October 2021, a fall of 15.5%. Exports fell by 40.7% from 611,000t in October 2021 to 362,000t in October 2022.
During the first four months of the current fiscal year, which began on 1 July 2022, Pakistan’s total cement dispatches - domestic and exports - were 13.9Mt, down by 23.1% from more than 18Mt during the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this period were 12.5Mt against 15.9Mt a year earlier, a reduction of 21.4%. Exports were 36.0% lower than in the first four months of the 2021 - 22 fiscal year, falling to 1.38Mt.
Italy: Cementir Holding sold 8.2Mt of cement and clinker during the first nine months of 2022, down by 1.7% year-on-year from nine-month 2021 levels. China, Denmark, Egypt and Türkiye all contributed to the decline. Group nine-month revenues were Euro1.26bn, up by 25% year-on-year. Third-quarter 2022 revenues rose most sharply, by 45%, in Türkiye, followed by the US (38%), the Nordic and Baltic region (20%) and Belgium (17%). During the third quarter of the year, operating costs increased by 36% to Euro365m from Euro268m. Raw materials, fuels and transport costs all contributed to the rise.
In the first nine months of 2022, the group recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euro238m, up by 11% from Euro215m during the first nine months of 2021.
Costs growth lowers JK Lakshmi Cement's profit in first half of 2023 financial year
04 November 2022India: JK Lakshmi Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$367m during the first half of its 2023 financial year. The figure corresponds to 19% year-on-year sales growth from US$307m in the first half of the 2022 financial year. Nonetheless, costs growth of 23% to US$338m from US$275m caused the company's net profit to drop by 21% to US$21.5m from US$27.1m.
Jaykaycem commissions grinding unit of Panna cement plant
04 November 2022India: JK Cement subsidiary Jaykaycem has commissioned the 2Mt/yr grinding unit of its upcoming Panna cement plant in Madhya Pradesh. The producer expects to commission the plant's clinkerisation unit later in the 2023 financial year.