Displaying items by tag: certification

Russia: The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has held a meeting to discuss cement pricing and mandatory certification. Representatives of FAS, cement producers, industry associations and government authorities - including the Ministry of Economic Development, the Federal Accreditation Service, the Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology, the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Industry and Trade - took part in the event on 17 May 2016.

Attendees reported that the pricing of bulk cement to industrial customers had increased slightly due to seasonal demand. FAS had received a growing number of complaints about rising prices from purchasers of bagged cement. To counter this, FAS has proposed using points of sale for bagged cement with the intention to remove intermediaries from the supply chain and cut costs.

On mandatory cement certification the Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology and the Ministry of Economic Development reported that over 50 cement plants in Russia and several Belarusian cement producers have certified their products. However, some cement importers have experienced difficulties with certification. FAS agreed to coordinate the forwarding of issues importers and other producers have experienced to the supervising body. It will also draft proposals on amendments to the certification. Mandatory cement certification came into force on 7 March 2016 due to No. 930 Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Ecuador: Union Andina de Cementos (UNACEM) has been recognised as an eco-efficient company by the Ministry for the Environment. The certification is given to companies that have demonstrated environmentally friendly production. Unacem submitted four case studies to qualify for the certification, according to La Hora. These included examples of using slag to produce clinker and co-processing alternative fuels like palm kernel shell and waste oils.

US: The Argos USA Newberry cement plant in Florida has achieved Energy Star certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its superior energy performance in 2015. It joins nine manufacturing plants that have gained the certification for the first time. Overall, 28 cement plants gained certification in 2015.

“Energy Star certified manufacturing plants are driving the kinds of efficiencies and innovations that keep our country strong,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “They’re proving every day that businesses can save on energy, cut down on bills and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions all at the same time.”

Since 2006, the EPA has certified manufacturing plants with the Energy Star for reaching the top 25% of energy performance in their industries nationwide each year. Energy Star certified plants must have their energy performance independently verified. Plants from the automotive, cement manufacturing, corn refining, food processing, glass manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing and petroleum refining industries are among those that qualified in 2015.

Since the inception of EPA’s Energy Star certification, a total of 148 manufacturing plants have achieved this distinction. These plants have saved over 41Mt million of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Costa Rica: Cemex and Holcim have appealed against the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Trade (MEIC) over new certification requirements. Cemex has explained that its cement has been accredited since 2005 and it presented all necessary documentation on 10 April 2015 following a request from the MEIC. Cemex believes that government authorities have made a series of errors in their procedures and asked for the necessary corrections, according to local media.

Holcim Costa Rica has made assurances that it adheres to technical requirements and every year the national technical standards institute (Inteco) certifies its cement. Holcim will appeal against the government decision for new certification. Cement importer Sinocem has not appealed against this resolution, so it will have to present its certification in six months.