Pakistan: Lucky Cement commissioned 28.8MW of wind power at its south Karachi plant in the second quarter of the 2025 financial year, bringing its total renewable energy portfolio to 160MW. This includes 74MW of solar and 56MW of waste heat recovery (WHR).

The company said renewable sources now cover more than 55% of its cement operations’ electricity demand, with the remaining 45% supplied by the national grid.

Lucky Cement also reported that cement dispatches rose by 8% year-on-year in the 2025 financial year, driven largely by stronger exports. The company said that it has retained its position as Pakistan’s largest cement exporter, with African markets accounting for the bulk of volumes.

Ghana: The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers (COCMAG) has raised concerns about a surge of imported bagged cement, mainly from Togo, according to local press.

In a statement to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, COCMAG CEO George Dawson-Ahmoah said that foreign cement brands, particularly from Togo, are increasingly ‘flooding’ the Ghanaian market without undergoing mandatory product certification by the Ghana Standards Authority. He said that this raises safety concerns for buildings and infrastructure.

Beyond safety, Dawson-Ahmoah said that the influx is distorting market dynamics. “Our local manufacturers have made substantial investments to expand production capacity, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to Ghana's economic development. As such, the influx of imported cement without any value addition to the local economy risks eroding these gains, weakening investor confidence and destabilising the entire industry.

India: Environmental activists and residents of the villages of Ambivli, Atali, and Mohane in Kalyan have raised objections to Ambuja Cement’s proposed 6Mt/yr Ambivli cement grinding unit, citing air pollution and risks to the nearby Kalu and Ulhas rivers, according to local press. A public hearing by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is scheduled for 16 September 2025.

The US$159m plant will be located on a 26 hectare site, 9.67 hectares of which have been earmarked for green belt development, while 5.49 hectares will be used for installation of the grinding unit, storage facilities and a packing plant.

Opponents argue that the project violates environmental guidelines requiring a minimum 500m buffer from residential areas.Nitin Nikam of Mi Kalyankar said “The project will affect the health of thousands of commuters travelling from Ambivli station. Hundreds of thousands of residents in Ambivli, Atali and Mohane live just 150–200m away and will be exposed to air pollution from the plant.”

Stalin D, director of Vanashakti, said “The proposed unit will add to the pollution levels of the Ulhas River. As cases related to the river’s pollution are pending at the Supreme Court, the government should not encourage any project that risks worsening the situation.”

Nikam also called for the hearing to be postponed by one month, noting that the notice does not specify the exact venue where the hearing is due to be held.

Iraq: Multipower International (MPI) has announced the successful commissioning of Line 2 at Najmat Al Samawa Cement plant, according to a post on LinkedIn. The commissioning was carried out by MPI’s team, certified by Fives Pillard, with additional remote support from Fives Pillard experts.

Cold commissioning involved testing the fuel handling skids without load, checking instrument functions and resolving hardware and software discrepancies. Hot commissioning included testing the skids under load, burner alignment, flame detection, control valve calibration, automation integration and operation of the full system.