Uganda: The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has augmented its operations on the country’s eastern border with Kenya to prevent the smuggling of cement. The Daily Monitor newspaper previously reported “cheap illegal cement” was being imported by both large and small-scale traders via multiple uncontrolled border points. Kenya and Uganda share land border over 800km in length

Ibrahim Bbosa, a spokesperson for the URA, said “While there is legal trade with significant amounts of Kenyan cement entering Uganda through official customs points, there has been a worrying increase in the smuggling of brands such as Simba and Bamburi.” He added that smugglers were often using bicycles and motorcycles to move cement across the border before consolidating the shipments by truck within the country for further distribution.

China: China National Building Material (CNBM) has divested control of Qilianshan Cement to China Communications Construction (CCC) and China Urban-Rural Holding Group as part of an asset restructuring agreement agreed in May 2022. Following the transaction CCC holds an 85% equity interest in Qilianshan Cement and China Urban-Rural controls the remaining 15% portion.

As part of the asset swap agreement CNBM arranged to take control of companies including Southwest Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute of China, China Northeast Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute and CCCC Highway Consultants. In a statement CNBM said it no longer had control of the board of directors of Qilianshan and that both it and Qilianshan Cement were no longer its subsidiaries.

Sweden: CemVision has announced its first commercial agreement to sell its low carbon cement. Pilot deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2024 to LKAB. Further commercial agreements are planned over the next four years. CemVision produces its Re-ment product using industrial residual products such as those from the steel and mining sectors instead of limestone.

Anders Lundgren, Chief Sustainability Officer for Business Area Special Products at LKAB, said “The letter of intent include the pilot deliveries and trial use of CemVision’s products in our concrete production, and intent to source from their future full-scale production, which presents a potential to further enhance the circularity and to decarbonise our supply of cement and addressing our emissions in the supply chain.”

Argentina: Throughout the second half of 2023, Holcim Argentina estimates that it will use 75% renewable energy. The milestone is the outcome of an agreement signed with 360 Energy in April 2023, under which the renewable power provider contributes to the energy mix at all of Holcim Argentina’s cement production facilities. Holcim Argentina says that the deal will help to eliminate 68,600t/yr of CO₂ from its operations. The producer said that it also invested in upgrades to help reduce its water consumption by 6% throughout 2023.

Holcim Argentina has invested US$1m in on-going and planned upgrades to its facilities, and plans to invest a further US$4.9m.