Displaying items by tag: lease

India: Three cement producers placed winning bids for coal mining leases at auctions on 27 February 2023. Press Trust of India News has reported that Dalmia Cement (Bharat) and Rama Cement Industries won bidding for coal mining leases in Madhya Pradesh, while Shree Cement won a lease for mines in Chhattisgarh.

India: Orient Cement says that it has 'mutually terminated' a memorandum of understanding with Adani Group subsidiary Adani Power Maharashtra for a sublease of land in Tiroda in Maharashtra. Orient Cement had planned to establish a grinding plant on the land. It is located at the site of Adani Power Maharashtra's Tiroda coal-fired power plant and belongs to the state-owned Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. The parties signed the agreement in September 2021. The reason for termination was the parties' failure to meet its conditions, even despite extensions beyond the stipulated 365-day period in which to do so.

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh says that it will take 'legal action' against Adani Group should it fail to reopen its Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants. The Times of India newspaper has reported that measures may include cancellation of the cement producer's relevant land leases. Out-of-work truck drivers agreed to cancel a state-wide road blockade in protest against the closures after the government promised a 'resolution' on 4 February 2022. It now plans to hold talks with Adani Group, in which it will relay truck drivers' offer of an 11% reduction in per-kilometre freight rates to US$0.12/t from US$0.14/t.

Himachal Pradesh industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the state government is empowered to take drastic measures in defence of Himachali people's interests.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials are reportedly investigating alleged illegal mining at the sites of the Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants.

India: Mangalam Cement has secured a lease from the Rajasthan state government for the 204Mt Ninama Dunia limestone mine in Rajasthan's Kota District. Mangalam Cement won the auction with a highest final price offer of 85%, corresponding to a tax revenue of US$1.17m/yr for the state. Throughout the operational life of the mine up to 2073, the Rajasthan state government expects to collect revenues of US$1.22bn.

The Hindustan Times newspaper has reported that the Rajasthan government expects to auction four limestone mines in Banswara District later in 2023.

Rajasthan generates 20% of India's cement-grade limestone.

US: The Board of County Commissioners of Boulder, Colorado, has denied Cemex USA’s application for a 15-year extension to its Dowe Flats quarry mining licence, following its expiry on 30 September 2022. Commissioner Claire Levy cited dust, traffic, noise and disturbances to wildlife as reasons behind the decision.

Cemex USA’s nearby Lyons cement plant has previously relied on the quarry for the supply of 760,000t/yr of limestone.

Vietnam: The State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) has uncovered limestone mining activity above licensed levels by multiple subsidiaries of the Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (VICEM) between 2017 and 2022. In 2021, Vicem Bim Son’s Yen Duyen quarry yielded 499,000t of limestone, 14% above its licensed capacity. That same year, Vicem Hoang Mai extracted 154,000t of limestone from its Hoang Mai B quarry, 8.5% above capacity, while Vicem Tam Diep extracted 111,000t from its Hang Nuoc quarry, 6% above capacity.

The Viêt Nam News newspaper has reported that the SAV has asked Vicem to review the causes of the discrepancy between production and licences and clarify its responsibility.

India: The Indian Coal Ministry has deducted Jaypee Cement’s bank guarantee for a lease for a planned coal mine. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the project is among 44 others penalised for delays in operation or missing production targets. UltraTech Cement also received a show cause notice regarding adherence to its timeline at one of its coal blocks.

Tanzania: Dangote Cement says that the use of gas generators in its Mtwara cement plant’s equipment and lorries has reduced fuel costs by 45% over the 15-month period since its transition in March 2021. The Citizen newspaper has reported that company recorded total savings over the period up to 30 June 2022. The producer plans to establish a compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station in Dar es Salaam. Its operations remain 70% reliant on rental vehicles that run on oil.

US: Eco Material Technologies has won a contract with Georgia Power to mine 600,000t/yr from the energy company’s Plant Bowen ash dump in Cartersville, Georgia. Eco Material Technologies will use the ash to produce its 99% reduced-CO₂ building materials, including an alternative cement with 20% greater compressive strength than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) after 28 days, according to the company.

Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, said "As the largest partnership of its kind in the US, this project will not only use material from landfills and ash ponds, but also keep millions of tonnes of CO₂ from going into the atmosphere."

Australia: James Hardie Industries says that it has acquired land in Melbourne, Victoria, on which it plans to establish a fibre cement board plant.

Interim CEO Harold Wiens said "Adding a manufacturing site in the State of Victoria enables James Hardie to continue to meet the strong demand for our high-value building solutions in the Asia Pacific region. As we continue our strategic focus on marketing directly to the homeowner and commercialising market-led innovations, this site will help us not only meet this demand but enable the manufacturing of new innovations and existing high-value products."