Tajikistan: Data from the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MOINT) shows that Tajikistan exported 0.99Mt of cement in the first nine months of 2020. 0.56Mt of cement was exported to Uzbekistan, 0.39Mt to Afghanistan and 43,000t to Kyrgyzstan, according to Asia Plus. Local cement companies produced over 3.2Mt in the same period. The country has 16 registered cement plants with a total production capacity of 5.6Mt.

Vietnam: Tan Thang Cement has commissioned a control system package supplied by Switzerland-based ABB for a new cement plant in Nghe An province. The order included an ABB Ability System 800xA DCS (Distributed Control System), which integrates control, electrical and communication systems, ABB Ability Knowledge Manager and ABB Ability Expert Optimizer products which are integrated with the DCS, and basic communication and electrical system infrastructure and equipment.

"This was a challenging project many years in development and we delivered the control system package within our customer's timeframe. We used remote support and provided all necessary training to ensure that the plant team could complete the commissioning accurately and safely," said Nguyen Hoang Giang, Division Manager for Process Industries, ABB Vietnam.

On the electrical side, ABB provided a 110kV air insulated substation, with a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system based on ABB Ability System 800xA for Power Control, as well as telecommunications, and high voltage primary and secondary equipment to support the electrical infrastructure. ABB also delivered power transformers, distribution transformers, a motor control centre, auxiliary control centre, emergency diesel generator, DC power supply, various field devices, and related commissioning services.

Myanmar: Thailand-based Siam Cement Group (SCG) and Pacific Link Cement Industries (PLCI) joint-venture Mawlamyine Cement has suspended production at its integrated cement plant in Kyaikmayaw, Mon State amidst a dispute between its owners. SCG says it has resorted to arbitration to resolve the matter and that PLCA has filed a lawsuit against it. In a statement SCG said that, “MCL continues to work with distributors and customers to alleviate the supply shortage due to the temporary suspension.”

China: China National Building Materials has submitted a letter of intent of cooperation to its subsidiary Sinoma International Engineering, in which it proposes the sale of several engineering businesses to the latter. ET Net News has reported that the assets in question are under negotiation, but may include Beijing Triumph Building Materials, Nanjing Triumph International Engineering and Sinoma Mining Construction.