Displaying items by tag: Plant

Philippines: Holcim Philippines has suspended the operation of its manufacturing plant in Davao as the city goes on lockdown until (at least) 19 April 2020 in order to contain the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. This was due to a 4 April 2020 order by Mayor Sara Duerte that imposed enhanced community quarantine protocols. Holcim plants are now suspended in the whole of Luzon and in Davao City, prompting the company to announce that it could miss its full-year goals.

Luzon is now on the fourth week of a month-long isolation order that is formally due to end on 12 April 2020. However, government officials have already sounded the possibility that this could be extended.

Mexico: Cemex has temporarily stopped production in Mexico following a government decree issue by the Health Ministry of Mexico in response to the coronavirus epidemic. The building materials company says it has maintained communication with the federal government to resume operations should the authorities decide that the construction industry should be prioritised.

“For Cemex, the health and safety of our employees, contractors, suppliers, customers and communities is a top priority,” said Fernando A Gonzalez, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cemex. “As soon as the COVID-19 threat emerged, we activated our Rapid Response Teams to implement preventive measures in response to this unprecedented health crisis.” He added that 90% of Cemex’s customers use it Cemex Go online sales platform. The company had also identified US$200m in cost-saving initiatives for 2020 and it is evaluating the delay of certain capital expenditures that had been planned for this year, among other measures.

Argentina: Loma Negra plans to restart cement production at its plants depending on local demand. It is currently supplying public infrastructure projects from existing stocks, according to Infoeme. The subsidiary of Brazil’s InterCement stopped production following a national quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak in late March 2020. However, the building materials producer has been included by the government on a list of essential activities so it can resume operation when it wants.

Turkey: Yibitas Yozgat has stopped clinker production for approximately three months due to ‘market conditions’ at its integrated plant near Yozgat in the Central Anatolia Region. The subsidiary of Brazil’s Votorantim said that it had enough stocks to meet current sales. It does not expect production and sales to be negatively affected by the decision.

Trinidad & Tobago/Barbados: Trinidad Cement has halted most of its operations in Trinidad & Tobago and temporally halted operations at its Arawak Cement subsidiary in Barbados following government advice in each country with regards to coronavirus. It said that it had stopped ‘almost all operations’ at its Trinidad Cement integrated plant except for activities related to maintaining the kiln and the continuation of some port operations. Both lockdowns are expected to last initially until mid-April 2020. The subsidiary of Mexico’s Cemex said that it expected the global response to coronavirus would negatively affect economic growth in the Caribbean. To counter this it has delayed certain capital expenditure planned for 2020 and it is maintaining inventory at its facitlies to serve customer demand.

Dominican Republic: Cemex has used its concrete mixer trucks to aid a disinfection day in San Pedro de Macorís, where the company operates an integrated cement plant. The local subsidiary of the Mexican company supported a cleanup drive coordinated by the Dr Antonio Musa Regional Hospital to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Cemex trucks transported soap and water and company volunteers helped local officials. Further initiatives are planned in the city.

Italy: Italcementi’s integrated Calusco plant near Bergamo has been awarded a Responsible Sourcing Scheme (RSS) certificate for its concrete and related supply chain operations. The certification looks at the entire production process from transportation to recycling raw materials. It is the first cement plant in the Italian subsidiary of HeidelbergCement to obtain the certification.

Italcementi suspended operation at its plants in March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak due to government decree.

Russia: VostokCement subsidiary Teploozersky Cement has reported the successful completion of scheduled maintenance work on the rotary kiln at its 0.8Mt/yr integrated Teploozersky cement plant in Birobidzhan Oblast. Esmerk Russian News has reported that the work consisted of adjusting furnace units’ positions replacing worn sections of the lining.

Spain: Coronavirus has forced the suspension of operations at all Cementos Molins facilities, in accordance with a royal decree. Europa Press has reported that the company began the progressive shutdown of the 1.6Mt/yr integrated line at its Sant Vincenç dels Horts cement plant in Barcelona, Catalonia, on 31 March 2020, and switched off the plant on 2 April 2020.

Cementos Molins said that it has already suspended production in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia and Tunisia. It says it has ‘implemented the teleworking model in the areas of the company where its application is possible.’

Ireland: UK-based Breedon Group has announced the suspension of operations at its 0.7Mt/yr integrated Kinnegad plant in County Westmeath and all other sites in Ireland. Breedon Group guaranteed 100% to pay to all Irish and UK staff to 30 April 2020.

Two non-executive directors of Breedon Group, Susie Farnon and Peter Cornell, have taken retirement.