Pakistan: The government plans to raise the rate of federal excise duty for cement plants operating at less than 100% capacity utilisation. The Dawn newspaper has reported that the measure aims to reduce cement prices in the country. Taxes are currently US$8.55/t of cement produced. In the 2021 financial year, capacity utilisation was at 84% of the available 69.3Mt/yr total capacity. Since the 2017 financial year, it has dropped below 75% in some years. Over the five-year period, the national cement capacity has increased at an average of 8.6% annually.

Ministry of Finance spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam said “Who should we protect: consumers or cement makers? Is it not harmful for the country that they have joined hands and set a higher market price?”

Paraguay: State-owned Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) says that its Vallemi plant has suffered a grinding mill breakdown due to an ‘engine failure.’ The producer reassured customers that the issue will not affect the plant’s regular dispatches of cement.

US: Inhabitants of Ravena, New York, have reported a ‘gritty, sticky, dusty’ residue in areas of the town to mayor Bill Misuraca. The residents described the apparent dust spill as ‘more stubborn to remove’ than on previous occasions.

LafargeHolcim US, which operates the Ravena cement plant in the town, contacted the mayor about the issue, stating “We take all concerns and complains about the plant very seriously and aim to operate in a manner that causes zero harm to employees, contractors, customers, and most of all, local residents, in keeping with our core values.” It added "The plant will be working with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to collect data on the type and source of these materials."

Nepal: Udayapur Cement has commenced a US$42m upgrade and capacity expansion of its cement plant at Jaljale. The work includes replacing the shell of its 20m rotary kiln by the end of February 2022 and installing a reinforcement suspension preheater system, according to the Kathmandu Post newspaper. It will expand the plant’s capacity by 38% to 0.4Mt/yr from 0.29t/yr. The plant’s current equipment dates to 1988. Company spokesperson Laxman Pokharel said "Since the machines are old, we face frequent problems." He added that this has led to increased costs.

The Nepal government has agreed to loan Udayapur Cement US$34.4m, 80% of the project’s budget.

France: Vicat plans to test hydrogen electrolysis technology provided by Genvia for a pilot project at its Montalieu-Vercieu cement plant. Genvia made the announcement following a tour of its facilities by President Emmanuel Macron. It will be working with Vicat, Hynamics, a subsidiary of EDF group, and EDF Energy on the initiative. Other pilot projects have been announced with steel producers ArcelorMittal and Ugitech.

Genvia is a hydrogen production joint venture between French Alternative Energies and the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Schlumberger New Energy, VINCI Construction, Vicat Group and the Occitanie Region. It is developing and promoting solid oxide technology to enable industrial decarbonisation through hydrogen production, energy storage and fuel applications at scale.

Austria: W&P Zement says that it has commissioned an expanded 18GWh Wietersdorf hydroelectric power plant chain on the River Görtschitz in Carinthia. The chain consists of two new power plants and an existing one which the company optimised during a Euro12m project begun in October 2019. Together, the plants will supply 25% of the producer’s Wietersdorf cement plant’s electricity needs.

Technical director Florian Salzer said “With six modern Francis turbines, 18GWh of green electricity are generated in three power plants along the Görtschitz.” He added “That roughly corresponds to the supply for 3600 four-person households.”

Uganda: Security provider G4S has installed solar powered laser security systems for Hima Cement at one of its plants and several mines. The system was commissioned in March 2021 and it uses chargeable solar cells in perimeter security towers. G4S says that the system will improve sustainability and reduce costs compared to conventional alternatives. Where sensors detect a breach, security guards will investigate using electric bikes. The supplier says that the bikes facilitate more covert operations compared to motor vehicles, in addition to having sustainability benefits.

Head of technology Samuel Tebandeke said “We wanted to challenge ourselves to think of a better solution for our customer. We knew that we wanted to introduce electronic perimeter security to enhance the protection for the three mines and the cement plant we protect. Other providers were proposing laying many kilometres of cabling underground to provide power for their electronic perimeter monitoring, but our team decided to investigate a greener solution.”

Switzerland: Holcim has announced its support of Beton, the first Swiss exhibition dedicated to the history of concrete, at the Swiss Architecture Museum in Basel. The exhibition will run until 24 April 2022 and feature talks by an industry expert on the future of concrete.

Holcim chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “I congratulate our partners at the Swiss Architecture Museum for creating this first-of-its-kind exhibition showcasing the essential role of concrete in our world. This exploration is a great inspiration for all of us at Holcim as we shape the future of concrete, making it green, circular and technology-driven. Throughout its history, concrete has been part of building progress in our world. Today we are reinventing it to make it work for people and the planet.”

Switzerland: Holcim has launched its Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth plan to become a global innovative and sustainable building solutions leader. Under the plan, the group will expand its solutions and products sales to account for 30% of consolidated sales by 2025. During the three-year period, it aims to deliver continuous group sales growth of 3 – 5% and over-proportional recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBIT) growth on a like-for-like basis. It is also targeting a 10% return on invested capital (ROIC), cash conversion of 45% and leverage below 1.5x.

As part of the new strategy, the group will aim to recycle 75Mt of materials, including 10Mt of construction waste, in its products in 2022 – 2024. It aims to invest Euro476m in green capital expenditure (CAPEX) and link 40% of its financing agreements to its sustainable performance.

Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “We delivered what we promised with our Strategy 2022 one year in advance, setting strong foundations for our next era of growth. With our new level of performance, we have the firepower to invest in solutions and products to make it 30% of our company, while leading the way in green building solutions from ECOPact green concrete to energy-efficient roofing.” He added “With our Accelerating Green Growth strategy, we are ready to seize the opportunities ahead on our way to becoming the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions.”

Canada: St Mary’s Cement plans to apply for a licence to substitute alternative fuel (AF) for a part of its coal, gas and petcoke fuel mix. The plant previously held a two-week AF substitution trial in May 2011. CBC News has reported that the subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos will present its plan at an evening meeting for the general public on 18 November 2021. The company says that it plans to implement similar AF arrangements to those at its Bowmanville plant, where it uses 90,000t/yr of biomass, wood from construction and demolition and non-recyclable paper and plastics.

Environmental manager Ruben Plaza said "Lower CO₂ emissions is the first consideration and, equally as important, the material has to be approved and available in sufficient quantities with a reliable and sustainable long-term supply."