Displaying items by tag: Government
Dalmia Cement details Bokaro grinding plant expansion plans
06 December 2021India: Dalmia Cement plans to invest US$75.2m in a 2.6Mt/yr expansion to its Bokaro grinding plant in Jharkhand. The company says that the work will increase the plant’s capacity by 70% to 6.3Mt/yr from 3.7Mt/yr. US$33.2m will go towards the installation of new solar power plant. The company will also set up a waste management facility at the site, using US$1.06m of the investment.
Managing director Puneet Dalmia said “As we are further investing in the Eastern India market to participate in its economic growth story, we are also taking our corporate responsibility seriously by placing the utmost importance on environmental protection and social impact. We are confident that the employment generated through our investments and the skill enhancement in our social initiatives will help create a progressive ecosystem where we help people become independent and self-sufficient. We are excited and look forward to partnering with the state to achieve our business, social and sustainability goals.”
Department of Trade and Industry introduces temporary import duty on some Vietnamese cement
06 December 2021Philippines: The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has enacted a temporary duty on some imports of cement from Vietnam. The Manila Times newspaper has reported that the measure will be in force until April 2022 and only apply to ‘dumped’ cement. Importers will pay a duty of between US$1.02/t and US$10.50/t on ordinary Portland cement and between US$1.16/t and US$12.80/t on blended cement.
The measure follows a probe carried out on the basis of a petition by domestic cement producers APO Cement, Holcim Philippines, Republic Cement and Solid Cement. The probe found that the domestic cement industry had suffered a loss of market share and declining domestic sales between July 2019 and December 2020.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said "We do not anticipate that these duties will result in an increase in the retail price of cement, because its effect on landed cost is minimal.” He added “Any price increases in imported cement will be discouraged by competition from domestic cement producers. The provisional anti-dumping duties will be imposed only on specific Vietnamese exporters found to be dumping cement to the Philippines. Vietnamese exporters who are not dumping can continue to export cement without having to post the provisional anti-dumping cash bond.”
Innovative Ash Solutions to establish 20,000t/yr ash processing plant in South Lanarkshire
02 December 2021UK: Innovative Ash Solutions has received a Euro588m Scottish government grant to establish a 20,000t/yr ash processing plant in South Lanarkshire. The Herald newpaper has reported that the plant will process boiler ash, cyclone ash and incineration fly ash for use in local cement production. When commissioned in 2022, the plant will eliminate 6104t/yr of CO2 emissions, according to the operator. The government granted the funding under its Zero Waste Scotland circular economic investment scheme.
The company said “Using this new patented process, which diverts waste materials from landfill and avoids the use of virgin sand, creates a product which is cheaper and will reduce the environmental impact of cement production compared to the use of imported pulverised fuel ash.”
Innovative Ash Solutions is a joint venture of waste management company Levenseat and consultancy Organic Innovative Solutions.
North Korea’s Manpho cement plant increases its capacity by 20%
29 November 2021North Korea: Manpho cement plant has increased its production capacity by 20% through ‘technical innovations.’ Korean News Service has reported that the installation of new equipment in the plant’s kiln line also improved clinker quality.
PPC’s sales rise by 20% to US$324m in first half of year
24 November 2021South Africa: PPC’s revenue grew by 20% year-on-year to US$324m in the first half of its financial year to 30 September 2021 from US$269m in the same period in 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 13% to US$59.6m from US$52.9m. The group reported that cement sales volumes rose by 12 – 15% in South Africa and Botswana due to strong retail demand. It also described new procurement measures supporting locally produced cement for government-funded project as “an essential first step in ensuring the economic sustainability of the South African cement industry.” It noted cement sales volumes growth of 19% in Zimbabwe despite local economic problems, but earnings declined due to additional costs incurred in importing clinker and an unplanned kiln shutdown. In Rwanda the group noted flat sales volumes and falling earnings due to a coronavirus-related lockdown.
Philippines government approves Sinoma waste heat recovery project at Cebu cement plant
24 November 2021Philippines: The Board of Investments has approved China-based Sinoma Energy Conservation as the operator of a new 4.5MT waste heart recovery (WHR) unit that will be built at an unnamed cement plant in Naga, Cebu. The project has a budget of US$10.5m, according to the Manila Bulletin newspaper. Commercial operation of the unit is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.
Sweden: The government has extended Cementa’s permit to continue mining limestone at the quarries supporting its Slite cement plant for just over one year until the end of December 2022. The cement producer said that it would restart its mining activity immediately. However, it warned that the decision could still be appealed and work stopped whilst the case was pending. The subsidiary of Germany-based HeidelbergCement also refused to rule out shortages of cement in the future due to general uncertainty with the situation. Cementa has now started applying for a three to four year mining permit at the site.
Pakistan: The government plans to raise the rate of federal excise duty for cement plants operating at less than 100% capacity utilisation. The Dawn newspaper has reported that the measure aims to reduce cement prices in the country. Taxes are currently US$8.55/t of cement produced. In the 2021 financial year, capacity utilisation was at 84% of the available 69.3Mt/yr total capacity. Since the 2017 financial year, it has dropped below 75% in some years. Over the five-year period, the national cement capacity has increased at an average of 8.6% annually.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam said “Who should we protect: consumers or cement makers? Is it not harmful for the country that they have joined hands and set a higher market price?”
Ravena residents complain about dust spill
22 November 2021US: Inhabitants of Ravena, New York, have reported a ‘gritty, sticky, dusty’ residue in areas of the town to mayor Bill Misuraca. The residents described the apparent dust spill as ‘more stubborn to remove’ than on previous occasions.
LafargeHolcim US, which operates the Ravena cement plant in the town, contacted the mayor about the issue, stating “We take all concerns and complains about the plant very seriously and aim to operate in a manner that causes zero harm to employees, contractors, customers, and most of all, local residents, in keeping with our core values.” It added "The plant will be working with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to collect data on the type and source of these materials."
Udayapur Cement launches upgrade to plant
19 November 2021Nepal: Udayapur Cement has commenced a US$4.2m upgrade and capacity expansion of its cement plant at Jaljale. The work includes replacing the shell of its 20m rotary kiln by the end of February 2021 and installing a reinforcement suspension preheater system, according to the Kathmandu Post newspaper. It will expand the plant’s capacity by 38% to 0.4Mt/yr from 0.29t/yr. The plant’s current equipment dates to 1988. Company spokesperson Laxman Pokharel said "Since the machines are old, we face frequent problems." He added that this has led to increased costs.
The Nepal government has agreed to loan Udayapur Cement US$34.4m, 80% of the project’s budget.