Global Cement News

South Korea: SungShin Cement recorded full-year consolidated sales of US$792m in 2022, up by 24% year-on-year from US$641m in 2021. The producer recorded a net loss of US$19.5m, compared to US$5.01m net profit in 2021.

Uzbekistan: The government has ordered a partial transition of industries, including cement, to coal fuel from natural gas. The Turan Information Agency has reported that the ordinance, entitled Accelerating the Introduction of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy-Saving Technologies, will create an additional coal demand of 1.63Mt/yr and reduce national gas consumption by 926Mm²/yr. From 1 April 2023, the government will halve tariffs on coal imports, while the construction of new gas pipes to industrial facilities will be banned from 1 May 2023.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has won a contract to supply property developer Belin Promotion with its clinker-free cement for use in its residential property development projects up until March 2026. Dow Jones Institutional News has reported that the deal includes minimum volume commitments.

India: Sagar Cements says that it will pay US$111m to acquire Andhra Cements outright. The Hindu BusinessLine News has reported that the deal will more than double the producer's capacity to 8.25Mt/yr. By 2025, Sagar Cements expects to increase the newly acquired subsidiary's clinker capacity by 1.2Mt/yr, and its grinding capacity by 600,000t/yr. The group plans to invest US$56.8m in capital expenditure before 2025 in order to realise its plans.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has successfully launched its new fleet of 35 liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled trucks from its Murli cement plant in Maharashtra. The trucks are of two types, covering ranges of 50 - 600km, and will transport bagged cement and bulk raw materials. They have 28% lower CO₂ emissions than conventional diesel-powered trucks, and are thus able to eliminate 840t/yr of CO₂ emissions, while also reducing emissions of nitrous oxides (NO_x) by 59% and particulates by 91%, and eliminating emissions of sulphur oxides (SO_x).

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) says that its next move will be to launch a second fleet of 25 trucks from its Ariyalapur cement plant in Tamil Nadu. By April 2024, it plans to convert 10% of its 3000 truck-strong fleet to LNG fuel.

A spokesperson for the company said “Dalmia Cement has been following the business philosophy of Clean & Green is Profitable and Sustainable. Our overall CO₂ emissions have come down from 670kg/t to 467kg/t – one of the lowest globally – and we are focusing on realising our carbon negative goal by 2040. We are delighted to partner with GreenLine Logistics for further reduction of our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.”