Displaying items by tag: efficiency
UK: Aggregate Industries subsidiary Lafarge Cement has begun installing a new Euro10m bag filter system at its 1Mt/yr Cauldon cement plant in Staffordshire. The project is due for delivery in early 2024. The system consists of 2080 fabric bags to remove particulates from the plant's flue gases. It will replace the plant's existing electrostatic precipitation system. The company says that the system will triple the removal rate of particulates, reducing them to 10mg/Nm3 from 30mg/Nm3.
Cauldon cement plant manager Thierry Davila said “The installation of the new system will help us provide a step change in our efficiency and effectiveness, and optimise kiln performance. The plant and our operations will hugely benefit from up-to-date technology, which will result in more consistent running of the site, but also it will improve environmental performance and benefit the local community. The new filter system will mean less dust and emissions into the atmosphere and a reduction in pollutants, which is hugely positive and in line with our approach to sustainability.”
India: Prism Cement has taken delivery of a pendulum cooler supplied by Germany-based IKN at its Prism cement plant in Maharashtra. The new equipment will replace the 6.1Mt/yr plant's existing air beam technology cooler. The supplier says that this will help to improve the efficiency of waste heat recovery (WHR) processes at the plant.
Raysut Cement reduces loss in first half of 2023
17 July 2023Oman: Raysut Cement reported a net loss of US$4.52m during the first half of 2023. This corresponds to a drop of 67% year-on-year from US$13.8m in the previous first half. The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported that the producer attributed the loss reduction to its implementation of operational efficiency and cost reduction measures, as well as growth in sales volumes, during the latest half.
US: Heidelberg Materials North America will inaugurate its new 2.4Mt/yr Mitchell cement plant in Indiana on 13 June 2023. The plant cost US$600m to build and is Heidelberg Materials' 'most technologically advanced and sustainable' cement plant, according to the company. It includes a 32,000t/yr cement terminal, served by a newly renovated rail depot. Heidelberg Materials North America has commissioned 1000 new rail cars to assist in efficient distribution of cement produced at the Mitchell plant.
Bangladesh: Premier Cement Mills plans to install a new vertical roller mill at its West Mukterpur cement plant in Munshiganj. For this purpose, it secured a US$32.7m long-term loan from state-owned Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL). The New Nation newspaper has reported that IDCOL focuses on financing projects to increase energy efficiency, alongside the development of renewable energy.
Europe: Cemex has launched its latest packaging design for its Vertua reduced-CO2 product range at the Low Carbon World exhibition in Paris, France. The new design incorporates products' scores across five 'sustainability attributes:' emissions reduction, energy efficiency, conservation of water, recycled content and design optimisation. Cemex will now deploy the design across Europe by June 2023.
Cemex's Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “Cemex is attuned to the need to focus on all aspects that can make a product more sustainable - not just achieving a lower carbon footprint. With the updated classification system for Vertua, customers can now more easily identify which of our products leverage the cutting-edge technology and innovation that will enable them to overcome the challenges they are currently facing in construction and renovation." Menendez concluded "The enhanced Vertua brand represents a more ambitious and stronger approach: from a group of low carbon products to a family of products and solutions that encompass more sustainable attributes and contribute to our company vision of building a better future.”
China: Anhui Conch Cement plans to invest US$2.81bn in capital expenditure (CAPEX) throughout 2023. The investments will go towards building new capacity, upgrading to new technologies and increasing plants' energy efficiency. The Morning Star newspaper has reported that the producer currently faces high energy costs, against a backdrop of reduced cement demand.
Anhui Conch Cement recorded sales of US$19.2bn in 2022, down by 21% year-on-year from US$24.4n in 2021.
US: Continental Cement will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 114,000t-capacity cement storage dome at its Davenport cement plant in Iowa on 20 March 2023. The dome will replace existing winter storage facilities at the plant, resulting in a safer and more efficient operation, according to the subsidiary of Summit Materials.
The company’s president, David Loomes, said "The investment by Summit Materials of US$30m in the largest cement storage dome in North America represents a strong vote of confidence in Continental Cement and a commitment to sustained operations and investment in the State of Iowa."
Continental Cement plans to invest an additional US$32m in an expansion to its Green America Recycling programme, whereby it expects to achieve an alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate of 55%.
Cementos Artigas commissions Minas integrated cement plant
20 January 2023Uruguay: Cementos Artigas has successfully commissioned its upgraded Minas integrated cement plant. The new plant consolidates the operations of the former 350,000t/yr Minas clinker plant and the 500,000t/yr Sayago grinding plant. Crónica Global News has reported that the project consisted of the construction of a new vertical roller mill and storage facilities at the Minas site. The work lasted 18 months and cost US$40m.
Cementos Artigas says that the Minas integrated cement plant will increase the efficiency and reduce the electricity and transport costs of its operations.
Steppe Cement grows full-year sales in 2022
13 January 2023Kazakhstan: Steppe Cement's full-year sales were US$86.5m during 2022, up by 11% year-on-year from 2021 levels. This came about despite a 1.2% year-on-year drop in its cement volumes. The producer also overcame high inflation, which reached 20% year-on-year in Kazakhstan in December 2022.
Steppe Cement said "We continue our capital expenditure programme to increase our production capacity of clinker and cement by mid-2023, as well as to reduce power and coal consumption."