Turkey: YD Madencilik, part of Üstyapi Insaat Group, has ordered a 5000t/day clinker production line from Germany’s KHD Humboldt Wedag. The plant will be built at Yiglica, Düzce in the Marmara region. KHD will be responsible for engineering and equipment supply, as well as the supervision of erection and commissioning. It will also provide its Simulex plant simulation software to mirror the operation of the new plant.

The new production line will consist of the following KHD core components: a six-stage preheater with Pyroclon LowNO_x AF calciner, equipped with a Pyrotop compact mixing chamber, tertiary air duct and the Pyrobox calciner firing system; a three tyre rotary kiln, with a diameter of 4.8m; a Pyro-Jet kiln burner; and a Pyrofloor clinker cooler equipped with a Pyrocrusher system.

After commissioning, KHD says that YD Madencilik’s plant will operate its most efficient six-stage preheater in Turkey. It added that close to 70% of Turkish cement production units have been designed and installed by KHD. Commissioning of the plant is scheduled for the third quarter of 2019.

China: The merger between China National Building Material (CNBM) and China National Materials (Sinoma) is looking likely to be completed in early May 2018. The companies have issued a scheduled timeline for key events of the withdrawal of Sinoma shares and the implementation of a share exchange. This process is expected to be completed on or around 3 May 2018 with CNBM updating its business registration at the Beijing Municipal Administration of Industry and Commerce as soon as possible thereafter. The merger marks the conglomeration of the leading Chinese cement producer and equipment manufacturer.

Russia: BASF Construction Systems plans to spend at least Euro6m towards building a new cement additive and concrete admixture plant. The plant will be the company’s fifth in the country, according to Interfax. The subsidiary of Germany’s BASF is currently looking for a site for the unit with a decision planned for 2018. It will then build the plant by 2021.

Vietnam: Phuc Son Cement is under investigation for exploiting minerals. An inspection report by the State Audit Office has accused the cement producer of using mineral volumes higher than the amount it was licenced for in 1996, according to the Viet Nam News newspaper and Dantri. The report has been passed to the prime minister and the chairwoman of the National Assembly. The company has also been accused of causing pollution from its mining activities and not cooperating with the authorities over the investigation.

The State Audit Office estimates that Phuc Son Cement could face a US$11.7m fine for illegally exploiting natural resources and causing environmental damage. Phuc Son Cement, a joint venture between Taiwan’s Lucky Cement and a local partner, operates one of the largest plants in the country.