Global Cement News

Indonesia: The local government will begin using 'green' cement supplied by state-owned PT Semen Indonesia (SIG) in a bid to ensure sustainable construction in the new capital of Nusantara. This initiative will be a partnership to provide 'green' cement and cement-based products between SIG and PT Bina Karya, a state-owned company carrying out property development in Nusantara. Through 'green' cement production, the company has reportedly recorded a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 38% per tonne of cement so far.

SIG was chosen to supply materials for infrastructure development needs in Nusantara in December 2022. As of February 2024, the company has supplied 0.4Mt of cement from its production facilities in Balikpapan and Samarinda, near Nusantara.

PUPR Ministry’s secretary general, Mohammad Zainal Fatah, said "The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is seeking to encourage the supply of domestic industry-based material resources and construction equipment, which can support sustainable infrastructure development principles. SIG has the advantage of extensive production and distribution networks that are able to meet development needs in all regions in Indonesia.”

Thailand: B.Grimm Power has partnered with Siam City Cement (SCCC) to establish a joint venture named ‘Insee B.Grimm Solar.’ This collaboration aims to develop a solar rooftop project and a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) project within SCCC’s plant located in Saraburi province.

This project is expected to contribute to Thailand’s clean energy goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and integrating renewable energy sources into industrial operations. Specific details regarding the project’s capacity and timeline are not yet available.

Nigeria: Riga has announced its partnership with Lafarge Africa for a kiln shell replacement project in Nigeria. The project will take place at the Lafarge plant in Ewekoro, 64km from Lagos.

Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is enforcing stricter measures against non-compliant cement importers to protect the local market from substandard products. The DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards recently made a suspension after it conducted a market surveillance in Iloilo as part of its intensified monitoring of cement imports entering the country. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) praised the recent actions of the DTI against cement importers, arguing that there has been ‘excessive’ and ‘unfairly priced’ volume of imported cement in the country to the detriment of local manufacturers, according to The Philippine Star.

CeMAP said “This recent action of the DTI-BPS sends a resounding message that non-compliance and unfair trade practices will not be tolerated. The impact of the DTI’s actions extend beyond the cement industry itself. A strong and competitive local cement sector is vital in supporting the Philippines’ continued infrastructure development and economic growth.”

Spain: The Cemex plant in Alcanar has been granted €3m from the PERTE project for industrial decarbonisation, facilitated by the Ministry of Industry. This subsidy is part of a broader initiative involving 19 projects with a total aid of €96m under Line 1 of the programme. Cemex aims to contribute to decarbonisation of the clinker production process at its Alcanar facility by centralising compressed air production to enhance energy efficiency, replacing 14 old compressors with two more powerful and efficient units. The plant also plans to increase the use of alternative fuels in clinker production by integrating waste-derived and biomass fuels.