Global Cement News

India: My Home Industries is preparing to increase its cement production capacity by 50% to 15Mt/yr. At present the cement producer produces 10Mt/yr of cement from four plants, according to The Hindu newspaper. The company’s board is currently considering whether to build a new plant or expand an existing one. A final decision is expected in mid-June 2018.

India: JSW Cement has inaugurated a 6.5km railway siding to its 2.4Mt/yr Salboni cement grinding plant in West Bengal. The railway siding will connect the unit to the main railway line between Godapiasal and Salboni, according to the Economic Times newspaper. The new connection is expected to reduce logistics costs at the site.

The rail yard at the plant has five lines running parallel and connected to each other. Two lines are designated for receiving raw materials, two lines are dedicated for cement loading and the fifth line is reserved for engine reversal. The plant initially intends to receive two rakes of raw materials per day and one rake per day of cement for despatch.

Colombia: Ricardo Naya, the president of Cemex Colombia, says that he expects that the company's new US$356m cement plant at Maceo in Antioquia will go into operation at the end of 2018. At present the company is trying to guarantee with the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Antioquia environmental agency that it will have the necessary permits to operate the plant at full capacity, according to the La Republica newspaper.

In 2016 Cemex fired several senior staff members in relation to the Maceo project and its subsidiary’s chief executive resigned. This followed an internal audit and investigation into payments worth around US$20.5m made to a non-governmental third party in connection with the acquisition of the land, mining rights and benefits of the tax free zone for the project. The US Department of Justice has also investigated the project.

Cemex Colombia is also fighting a fine by the Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (SIC) for alleged market collusion in the cement business. It agreed to pay the fine but has appealed to the Dispute Tribunal.

Venezuela: The Cacique Yaracuy mini cement plant is reportedly three quarters complete. Installation of the equipment at the unit is yet to start, according to Radio Mundial. The project is being built by India’s Megatech International. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of 4 million bags of cement per year when operational.

In 2014 the governor of Yaracuy, Julio Leon said the government was developing a 600t/day cement plant in Peña under an agreement between Venezuela and India. The project was part of plans to build three mini plants in the country.

Central African Republic: Cameroon’s Quiferou has signed a deal with the government to produce cement. Quiferou plans to produce 0.35Mt/yr of cement locally, according to the African Press Agency. The project will be situated at Bomoko in the south west of the country.