Displaying items by tag: Government
Vietnam: Kien Giang province has granted an investment licence to Siam City Cement Vietnam for a limestone and clay mining project and a clinker kiln project in Kien Luong district. Both projects have a combined investment of around US$470m, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper. The subsidiary of Thailand’s Siam City Cement Group operates five plants in the country following its acquisition of Holcim Vietnam in 2017.
Saudi Arabia exports 25Mt of cement since mid-2017
30 July 2019Saudi Arabia: Total exports of cement have reached 25Mt since the export rules were relaxed in mid-2017. Abdul Rahman Hussein, from the Ministry of Trade and Investment, said that the government is now planning to charge fees on exporters after a two-year tax holiday, according to the Aliqtisadia newspaper. He noted that the ministry has approved 53 cement export licences. 22 of these have been issued during the current year.
Panama: Ramón Martínez, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has signed two resolutions intended to improve the requirements and standards of cement quality both domestically and for imports. DGNTI-COPANIT 5-2019 sets out the chemical, physical and performance requirements of general and specialised cements, as well as the packaging, transportation, storage and use requirements, according to La Estrella newspaper. DGNTI-COPANIT-90-2019 specifies the procedure for verifying and monitoring the quality of hydraulic cements produced, imported and marketed in the country.
Guatemala introduces cement distribution tax
29 July 2019Guatemala: The government has introduced a new distribution tax of US$0.2 per 42.5kg bag of cement. The new legislation also intends to regulate cement and clinker imports and appoint personnel to supervise storage sites, according to the El Periódico newspaper.
Greece: Heracles Cement has agreed an electricity energy deal with the Public Power Corporation. The three-year deal with the state-owned energy company will start at the end of 2020. It includes a 10% increase in the rate. The agreement is also part of the country’s Greenpass scheme. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim operates two integrated plants in the country.
Senegal: Ousmane Mbaye, the Administrative and Financial Director of Dangote Cement Senegal, says that his company is not worried about potential plans by the government to cut tax exemptions to cement plants as part of its Plan for an Emerging Senegal (PES). He said that the company was ready to discuss the proposals with the authorities, according to the Le Quotidien newspaper. He also blamed distributors and a breakdown at the plant of a competitor for recent swings in the price of cement. Mbaye made the comments at a ceremony giving away tickets for a pilgrimage to Mecca and/or Rome.
Keystone Cement to convert Bath plant to gas firing
23 July 2019US: Keystone Cement plans to convert its Bath cement plant in Pennsylvania to gas firing from coal. The project will cost US$2.2m, with a US$0.32m grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, according to the Express-Times newspaper. Gas supplier UGI Utilities will work with Keystone to install a new underground gas line from an existing substation to a new substation at the plant. The project is scheduled for competition by mid-2020.
Nepal: The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has accused the Huaxin Cement Narayani plant being built at Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality in Dhading of ignoring the project’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report. Members of the committee visited the site two months ago following complaints, according to the Republica newspaper.
It found that an 11km access road to the site had encroached upon a river. The company had used sand and stones from the river and used the materials to build the road. The road’s construction has also disrupted local agricultural irrigation canals. A flood at the site of the cement plant was reported in July 2019. An irregular deal to lease land to the joint venture was also reported.
Chinese government considering rating scheme to manage production stops for heavy industry
18 July 2019China: The government is considering introducing a rating scheme for companies in 15 key industries, including steel, coal and cement. Those with the highest emissions will be subject to the strictest production limits, according to the Economic Information Daily newspaper. Those with an A-rating, the highest, will be required to suspend production only in extreme weather, while the C-rated companies will be subject to additional bans during the winter heating season, when pollution is the most severe. The scheme is intended to incentivise companies to upgrade their equipment.
US: Companies comprising the informal Port of Alaska Users Group at Anchorage have requested that the local government delay plans for a US$220m petroleum and cement import terminal. The group, that includes fuel companies, are concerned that the project will incur tariffs that could damage their businesses, according to the Alaska Journal of Commerce newspaper. Costs for the proposed marine terminal have become uncertain due to damage caused to the site by an earthquake in late 2018. The group is made up of eight companies including Alaska Basic Industries, a cement distributor.