Displaying items by tag: Government
Chinese concrete and mortar producers ask local governments to stabilise cement prices
07 December 2017China: The Wuhan Concrete (Mortar) Association has held an emergency meeting to discuss soaring cement prices due to central government mandated environmental measures such as a peak shifting. It has urged local governments to examine the situation, according to Reuters. The association, which represents the region’s concrete and mortar producers, said that some construction projects had been suspended due to price spikes and artificial shortages of raw materials including cement. Chinese environmental policy has forced cement producers through shutting so-called ‘obsolete’ production capacity and forcing selected plants to shut through the winter.
Nepalese standards body removes certification from two cement brands
06 December 2017Nepal: The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has removed Nepal Standard (NS) certification of two cement brands marketed by Ambe Cement. Hi-Tech OPC Cement and Ambe Premium OPC Cement have had their certification cancelled, according to the Himalayan Times newspaper. The NBSM has also restricted the company from selling these brands locally. The government body says it found slag in the products despite requiring producers to only include clinker and gypsum in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) products.
Indian ministry considers exemption for cement plants from petcoke and furnace oil ban
05 December 2017India: The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MEF) is considering exempting cement plants and power companies from a ban on using petcoke and furnace oil for industrial use in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Additional solicitor general A Nadkarni informed the Supreme Court that the use of petcoke in the cement industry was ‘minuscule,’ for non-fuel purposes and that it is used for de-sulphuring, according to the Hindustan Times. However, the exemption, if granted, will only be allowed for one year to allow cement companies to switch to alternative fuels.
The Central Pollution Control Board and the MEF issued the ban following a directive from the Supreme Court in late October 2017 prohibiting industries in the three neighbouring states of Delhi from using the polluting fuels. Use of petcoke and furnace oil is already banned in the capital region. The ban was imposed following high pollution levels in Delhi.
Shanxi introduces water metering standards for cement producers
05 December 2017China: Shanxi province has introduced water metering rules for industrial users, including cement producers. Under the new regulations, reported upon by Reuters, Xinhua and the local Development and Reform Commission, companies that exceed mandatory water usage standards will have to pay incremental charges. The levies range from doubling the cost of water if usage exceeds levels by less than 20%, to five times the cost and the threat of cutting off of water supplies if usage standards are exceeded by more than 60%. The province also has a target to cut its dust pollution by 40% over the winter.
Mining ministry and BUA Group argue over mining dispute
05 December 2017Nigeria: The head of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has publicly rebutted accusations by Abdulsamad Rabiu, the chief executive officer (CEO) of BUA Group, that the ministry and Dangote Cement have ‘sabotaged’ operations at the company. Rabiu made the allegations in a letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the This Day newspaper.
Rabiu says that the rival cement company and the ministry colluded in a legal dispute about operations at Okpella in Edo State and mineral resources. Allegedly, a militia attempted to damage the cement plant before security forces intervened. Later government officials and police tried to stop work at a BUA Cement mine despite on-going legal action.
Mohammed Abass, the head of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, responded by describing Rabiu’s accusations as, “…an unwarranted campaign of calumny against the ministry.” He added that the cement company was attempting to blackmail the ministry into granting a ‘free pass’ for illegal operations. The ministry says that it issued a Stop Work Order for the disputed mine in 2015 but that BUA Group ignored it and has continued to work at the site whilst the legal case was pending. Later, the staff of BUA Group resisted an attempt to shut the site down in mid-November 2017.
Tanzania: Industry, Trade and Investment minister Charles Mwijage says that senior officials from the Treasury and Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) are finalising talks with China’s Sinoma and Hengya Cement about building a US$1bn cement plant in the Mkinga District, Tanga Region. The discussions are focusing on incentives to be offered to the investors and the location of a jetty, according to the Citizen newspaper. The plant will have an initial cement production capacity of 2.5Mt/yr with an eventual target of 7Mt/yr following further investment. Future plans also include generating 1200MW of electricity at the site. The overall cost of the expanded project is forecast to be US$2bn.
India: The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has recommended that Jammu & Kashmir Cements’ plant at Khrew, Pampore for causing ‘major pollution.’ However, the state government has given the state-owned cement producer time to stay open while it installs dust control upgrades, according to the Kashmir Monitor newspaper. The company employs around 1000 workers and the government is concerned about the disruption that shutting the plant would cause.
Congolese cement producers support import ban
10 November 2017Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cement producers have expressed their support for a ban on cement imports. The comments were made during an evaluation meeting on the ban held by the Minister of Foreign Trade, Jean Lucien Bussa, according to the Congolese News Agency. The minister noted, that since the ban was implemented on 25 August 2017, cement prices had not risen. Before the ban started imports from Lufu, Angola were blamed for flooding the market.
Angolan cement plants to buy fuel from Luanda Refinery
07 November 2017Angola: Manuel Tavares de Almeida, the Minister of Construction and Public Works, says that cement plants will be able to buy heavy fuel oil (HFO) from the Luanda Refinery. The announcement follows fuel shortages in the country that have led to the Fabrica de Cimento do Kwanza Sul and Luanda Cemento plants being shut, according to the Angola Press Agency. The minister said he had received assurances from the refinery that HFO would be supplied to the cement industry.
Edo state looks for new investor for Ava Cement plant
07 November 2017Nigeria: Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State Governor, say that the state is negotiating with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to find a new investor for the Ava Cement plant. Obaseki made the statement whilst visiting the Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, according to the Daily Trust newspaper. AMCON took possession of the plant due to its mounting debts.