Global Cement News

Malaysia: Makin Teguh and Borneo Oil have held a ceremony to mark the firing up of the kiln at the 0.23Mt/yr ILPP cement plant being built in Sabah. The new plant is next to a limestone quarry owned by Borneo Oil and it is set to further benefit from the oil company’s other limestone assets via long term supply contracts, according to the Borneo Post newspaper. Borneo Oil increased its stake in Makin Teguh to 38% in May 2022.

A China-based supplier has built the new plant. It includes a waste heat recovery (WHR) unit and it reportedly the first integrated cement plant in Malaysia to use alternative fuels such as heavy fuel oil derived from refined recovered oils, palm kernel shells and bio char.

Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has set fixed prices for cement in response to price inflation. The ministry said it took the move when cement producers responded to a request for price adjustments with prices that the government viewed as too high, according to the Addis Standard. The government department subsequently established a task force to investigate the market and came up with its own price window.

Also, due to low production levels, priority for cement will be given to government projects. Such schemes will procure cement directly from plants after obtaining government certification. Other consumers will be able to buy cement products through government development organisations and other outlets. The ministry warned that buying cement from other sources would be considered illegal and appropriate legal action would be taken in response.

Canada: The Quebec Ministry of the Environment has ordered St Mary’s Cement’s integrated plant at Port-Daniel-Gascons to reduce its dust and other emissions to government-mandated levels. The notification follows an incident that occurred over the summer of 2020 and has reoccurred since on occasion. The order requires, amongst other measures, that the subsidiary of Brazil-based Votorantim allow an independent expert recognised by the department to carry out an assessment of air filtration equipment at the plant and propose ways to improve the situation.

Denmark: Lime and chalk producer Dankalk has ordered a three-tube dryer type TRT 3150/5,0 from Germany-based Gebr. Pfeiffer. The order replaces a previous dryer also supplied by Gebr. Pfeiffer. Dankalk manufactures lime products for agricultural purposes, products for waste incineration plants and chemical auxiliaries and polymers for industrial wastewater treatment and environmental processes.

India: Adani Group has successfully acquired Holcim’s assets in Indian for US$6.4bn. Holcim says that the transaction will facilitate the on-going implementation of its acquisition strategy, to build on investments of US$5.19bn in its solutions and products business so far in 2022.

Holcim chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “I would like to thank our 10,700 Indian colleagues who have played an essential role in the development of our business over the years with their relentless dedication and expertise. I am convinced that the Adani Group is the right home for them as well as for our customers to continue to thrive in the future. This divestment is another step in our transformation to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, strengthening our balance sheet and giving us the firepower to continue our acquisition strategy.”