Displaying items by tag: US
Fire damages coal mill at Essroc Cement in Lower Nazareth
11 January 2016US: A fire that started in the coal mill at the Essroc Cement plant in Lower Nazareth, US is under investigation.
The fire started around 16:20 on 10 January 2015. Firefighters from several different companies were on the scene for about two hours, according to Hecktown Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jeff Seip.
"It was a lengthy process because of where the fire was burning inside the coal mill," said Seip. "We had to take our time to gain access to the fire and then apply water to it so that it did not extend to other parts of the bins."
The fire caused a significant amount of damage to the mill, although the damage did not extend beyond that portion of the building. There were about 10 employees working at the time the fire was reported. None of the employees or firefighters on the scene were injured.
Solid recovered fuel plant breaks ground in the USA
08 January 2016US: A waste-to-solid-fuel plant has broken ground in West Virginia. Its developers say it is the US' first resource recovery facility that employs mechanical biological treatment (MBT).
The waste-to-solid-fuel plant in Martinsburg, West Virginia, called Entsorga WV, is expected to be operational in early 2017. Entsorga WV is a joint venture between Apple Valley Waste Technologies, Entsorga USA and Chemtex International.
By utilising the HEBioT MBT system, Entsorga WV will recover biomass, plastics and other carbon based materials from the mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) stream and convert them into an alternative fuel. When processing the MSW, Entsorga WV will remove other recyclable commodities such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The MSW received will be converted to solid recovered (SRF), which will be used as an alternative or supplement to fossil fuels.
The plant will be able to produce about 50,000t/yr of SRF, which will be delivered to the Essroc Cement Plant and used in conjunction with coal. The companies have entered into a long-term contract for the provision and acceptance of the SRF.
The reduction of waste that will be disposed of in landfills as a result of the Entsorga facility will result in a greenhouse gas emission reduction of 28,000t/yr of carbon dioxide equivalent. There are currently more than 330 MBT plants in operation throughout Europe, processing more than 30Mt/yr of municipal solid waste.
Portland Cement Association celebrates 100th anniversary
07 January 2016US: The year 2016 marks the centennial anniversary of the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the US' leading advocate for America's cement manufacturers. Widely recognised as an authority on the technology, economics and applications of cement and concrete, the PCA is a vocal advocate for sustainability, economic growth, sound infrastructure investment and overall innovation and excellence in construction.
In celebrating its 100th year, the PCA will be involved with as well as hosting several events throughout the year, including:
- World of Concrete, Las Vegas, Nevada. The official launch of Centennial Celebration;
- PCA Spring Congress, Chicago. Main centennial celebration for PCA membership;
- 2016 DC Fly-In, Washington, D.C., Reception for Members of Congress, Congressional staff, agency officials and allied groups in conjunction with transportation fly-in;
- Open house at PCA Skokie headquarters and CTLGroup to showcase campus to local politicians, government officials, local construction and business leaders, CTLGroup clients and potential clients.
A pessimist's guide to the cement industry in 2016
06 January 2016We're going to start 2016 with a list of some of the worst things that could happen to the global cement industry this year. The idea is taken from Bloomberg Business who ran 'A Pessimist's Guide to the World in 2016' in mid-December 2015. For some of these suggestions there will be both winners and losers. Remember: forewarned is forearmed.
Continuing low oil prices hit Russia and other petro-propped economies
Cheaper fossil fuels should mean cheaper energy bills for cement producers. However, that saving must be compared to the overall cost to the global cement industry of poor construction markets in Russia and other economies that rely on oil. For example, Russian construction output fell by 4.5% to US$81bn in 2014 according to PMR. It is possible that the fuels bill saving worldwide is greater than the contraction of certain construction markets. If it is though, is this a price that the cement industry is willing to pay?
China enters a recession
The long-expected Chinese 'hard landing' seems closer than ever, as economic growth slows. It hasn't happened yet (according to official figures at least) but the 7% drop in Chinese markets on 4 January 2015 gives observers the jitters. The financial reverberations from a full Chinese financial crash would be felt around the world, derailing emerging economies due to reducing demand for exports and commodities. Naturally, construction markets would suffer. This would add to the woes currently being experienced by Brazil, Russia and South Africa. The other worry for the cement industry specifically might be the complications from a desperate Chinese industry trying to flood the outside world with even more of its products and services, including lots of cement.
Climate change impacts cement plants
Normally when it comes to climate change the cement industry worries about the effects of carbon taxation and pollution controls. However, media reporting about flooding in the UK in late December 2015 and strong El Niño effects elsewhere makes a pessimist wonder about the effects of hotter and wetter weather upon the infrastructure of the industry. The cost to repair the flooded Cemex UK South Ferriby cement plant in 2014 was rumoured to run to Euro14m and production stopped for a whole year. Costs like these are something the industry could do without.
International sanctions remain in place for Iran
Hoping that lifting economic sanctions from Iran will boost the fortunes of multinational cement producers and equipment manufacturers may be wishful thinking. Yet if the sanctions stay in place due to deteriorating relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia then nobody can discover what opportunities there might be in the world's fourth largest cement producing nation. Of course Iran's geographical neighbours across the Gulf (and in Pakistan) might be hoping that the sanctions stay in place for a very long time indeed.
Sub-Saharan Africa builds production capacity too fast
Multinationals and local cement producers alike are scrambling to build cement plants in sub-Saharan Africa. Demand for cement and low per capita consumption suggest that it is a clear investment opportunity as development kicks in. However, we have already reported on scraps between local cement associations and importers from other continents. If the cement producers build capacity faster than these countries develop, then a crash can't be too far fround the corner and everybody loses.
The UK leads an exodus from the European Union
For the cement industry a UK exit, to be voted on later in 2016, from the European Union (EU) isn't necessarily a bad things. What would be negative though is a badly handled exit process as vast swathes of trade legislation is renegotiated. What a 'Brexit' might initiate are further exits from the EU, leading to further trade disruption on a larger scale. None of this would aid Europe's economic recovery in the short term.
US Presidential elections slow the construction market
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is currently placing odds of 9/2 for Donald Trump to be elected the next US president in late 2016. He's the second favourite candidate after Hillary Clinton despite not even having been nominated as the Republican party's presidential candidate yet. Whoever becomes the next president, the political uncertainty that occurs as the election progresses may impact upon the US construction market. It would be unfortunate to discover that the sector is weaker than expected if, say, the election rhetoric turns nasty.
Next week: reasons to be cheerful.
Happy New Year from Global Cement!
One man dead after accident at Continenial Cement in Buffalo
18 December 2015US: One person is dead following an accident on 15 December 2015 at Continental Cement in Buffalo, New York.
Buffalo police and fire departments along with a Medic ambulance responded to the quarry for a report of a male with head trauma after being struck by a boom on a tow truck. The man was reported as in stable condition at the scene and was transported to a local hospital. The victim later died at the hospital from his injuries.
The incident is being investigated by the Mine, Safety and Health Administration, the Scott County Medical Examiners Officer and the Buffalo Police Department.
US demand for fibre cement products set to grow
17 December 2015US: US demand for fibre cement products is forecast to grow by 5.8%/yr until 2019 to 2.9Bnft2, valued at US$2.2bn.
Accelerating construction expenditures, specifically in new housing, will spur demand. Siding is by far the largest application for fibre cement and demand will benefit from the popularity of fibre cement sidings in the south and west of the US, the regions that will experience the strongest growth in population and housing starts going forward. These and other trends are presented in 'Fiber Cement,' a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.
The residential market accounts for the majority of fibre cement demand. According to Construction Group Leader Tom Bowne, while new housing demand for fibre cement products will rise at the fastest pace through 2019, residential improvement and repair will continue to account for a larger portion of residential demand. Sales of existing housing will generate demand for fibre cement products as homeowners look to increase the value of their properties before going to market.
Exterior fibre cement products have seen increasing use in the non-residential market in recent years, particularly in the form of fibre cement backer-board products. Fibre cement product demand in the non-residential market is forecast to grow by 5.4%/yr until 2019 to 670mft2. Rebounding non-residential building construction demand will primarily drive gains. In addition, fibre cement siding and exterior trim will benefit from a design trend in commercial buildings that favours an exposed-wood appearance for exteriors. Fibre cement product manufacturers have responded to this demand by developing new wood-like products aimed at commercial buildings.
Siding accounts for over 70% of fibre cement product demand. Fibre cement manufacturers have found a great deal of success in this application, managing to penetrate a competitive market and becoming a major material option in siding over the course of a couple of decades. Backer-board is the second-largest application for fibre cement in the US and is expected to post above average growth in the forecast years.
Ecocem US plant faces possible planning setback
04 December 2015US: Irish cement maker Ecocem's proposed manufacturing plant in San Francisco Bay faces a potential planning setback after receiving almost 500 submissions challenging its environmental impact report.
Ecocem is seeking permission for a US$50m grinding plant in Vallejo, close to San Francisco, in the group's first venture in the US, but the town's residents are objecting to the proposal on environmental grounds. According to local reports, some 400 - 500 people and organisations have questioned the company's assessment of the plant's likely impact on the environment, which could force Vallejo's council to delay a decision on planning permission until 2016. The council was hoping to have cleared all planning hurdles by December 2015, but local sources have said that the volume of questions posed during a 60-day public consultation period means the deadline could be pushed back to March 2016.
California law requires Ecocem's subsidiary, Orcem Americas, which is directly responsible for the project, to answer the questions before preparing a final environmental impact report. The city's Architectural Heritage and Landmarks Commission will have to decide whether the buildings that would be knocked to make way for the plant are historic, which is likely to happen in December 2015. The proposal will then have to pass both the Vallejo Planning Commission and then get the support of a majority of councillors before it can get the go ahead.
According to local activist Peter Brooks, a group of citizens recently began a petition to remove four council members said to favour Ecocem's project. He also said that influential US environmental group, the Sierra Club, wrote to the city's authorities expressing concerns about the plans.
Ecocem wants to build the plant on the site of an old flour mill in the city's harbour. It would grind furnace slag from iron smelting that is then used as a component in cement. The process cuts greenhouse gas emissions from normal cement manufacture by 90%.
Ash Grove Cement donates US$20,000 to Nebraska conservatory
27 November 2015US: Ash Grove Cement has donated US$20,000 to a Nebraska conservatory to help fund a workshop and laboratory and support conservation efforts.
"Ash Grove Cement is delighted to support The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska and its important project, Niobrara Valley Preserve," said the Plant Manager of Ash Grove Cement in Louisville, John Dale. "We believe that conservation is vital to the future of the state, which is why we've contributed to The Nature Conservancy throughout the Plains states for the past 20 years."
The donation will go building a new workshop and laboratory for a research facility as well as conservation and ranching support. At 60,000 acres, the Niobrara Valley Preserve is one of the largest and most visited preserves in the US. Donations like the one from Ash Grove Cement help to keep the conservatory open for research and teaching purposes.
"The Nature Conservancy is grateful for the support of the Ash Grove Charitable Foundation to help build a new workshop / laboratory at our Niobrara Valley Preserve," said Conservation Director Mace Hack. "This is a part of a comprehensive plan to transform this special place into the world-class home for teaching and learning that today's conservation challenges demand."
Agreement reached over clean-up of historic Holcim cement plant
26 November 2015US: An agreement has been reached to clean up the site of the former Holcim cement plant in Spokane Valley, Washington, where Holcim operated a cement factory until 1967. The site was then used for cement distribution for a number of years before shutting down. In 2006, storage silos were torn down, leaving behind cement kiln dust with contaminates including arsenic, lead and cadmium, as well as benzene and gasoline associated with train activity and fuel storage on the site. Neighbouring lots owned by the city of Spokane Valley and Neighborhood Inc were also contaminated.
Because the contamination was deemed a threat to human health, the Department of Ecology got involved in working out a clean-up plan. Jeremy Schmidt, Ecology's site manager, said that a consent decree has been signed by all parties and clean-up is scheduled for the summer and autumn 2016. "Work may be delayed for one year if we can't get contractors out there at the right time," said Schmidt. The work has to done when the groundwater level is low so as not to increase contamination. The kiln dust has now turned to cement and must be scraped off, piled in one place and capped with cement to stop contaminants from leaking into soil and groundwater.
Holcim still owns the site and both Schmidt and Spokane Valley Attorney Cary Driskell said that the company has been responsive and responsible. "They have been very easy to work with," said Driskell. He added that there was a range of options for the cleanup, with costs ranging from US$1.6 – 10m. "It will not cost Spokane Valley anything."
US Cement white cement plant project moving ahead in Texas
23 November 2015US: The Brady City Council has voted to authorise two proposed sales tax rebate incentives for a US Cement proposed white cement plant and quarry that would be built in McCulloch, Texas.
The city sales tax rebate economic development incentive for the proposed plant would not exceed US$297,000 over nine years, or up to US$33,000/yr. The Brady Economic Development Corporation incentive would be a one-time payment of US$250,000, plus US$34,000 up to nine years, which would be a total package of US$556,000 over 10 years. The vote passed 4-1.
The council has authorised the city's Director of Community Services and EDC Director Peter Lamont to pursue negotiations with US Cement before it goes back to the city council for final approval. "I'm sure that there will be some back and forth on some of the qualifications," said Lamont. "Once we get all the language, terms and conditions and all the attorneys agree, it will be brought to the council for final approval."
Some of the qualifications are that US Cement generates a plant and quarry that improves the property value of its location by US$175m and provides 200 permanent, full-time jobs. There will have to be a 100ft buffer zone away from anything it doesn't own and the plant will have to purchase all of its natural gas from the city.
Those opposed to the cement plant are not against the plant itself, but where it will be located. There are 37 homes within 3000ft of the proposed plant and residents are worried about strobe lighting, blasting in the quarry, noise and dust pollution, truck traffic, emissions and a decrease in property values.
"We still have hope that Royal White Cement (the parent company of US Cement) will look for another piece of property," said Dale Matthews, an Austin-based attorney who is helping the opposition. "That there will be no approval of the incentive package if they insist on this location and find one that isn't disruptive to the people living here." Lamont said that finding another location will be up to US Cement and at present, there are no active offers of other properties on the table.