Global Cement News

Ireland: Irish Cement (ICL) has opposed a planned 139-home development by Tergnum Properties in Mungret over concerns it could ‘inhibit’ its future expansion, according to the Limerick Leader newspaper. The company said “This planning application is not consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” and has reportedly written twice to the local authority to express its concern. The company’s agents indicated that permission would be sought for its own expansion plan in the future, which could take its plant just 40m from the rear wall of some of the proposed houses. They also said that Tergnum Properties should implement measures such as triple-glazed windows, to mitigate against the noise from the plant.

Irish Cement has 14 days to decide if it will appeal the council’s decision or lodge an appeal to the national planning authority.

“It is imperative to ICL that its strategically important cement plant facility and associated proven long-term reserves are protected. It is not evident from this application that limestone resources and cement plant activities on the adjacent lands will not be impacted by the proposed development,” the firm’s agents concluded.

The Gambia: The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) has confirmed that Portland cement is now readily available, and that the market has returned to a stable state after recent disruptions, according to The Voice Gambia newspaper. According to the MoTIE, the shortages resulted from re-negotiations of international supply contracts following the imposition of new US tariffs.

MoTIE confirmed that cement inventories are as follows: Jah Multi Industries holds 54,457t, Salam Cement 59,000t and Gacem 21,000t. Scheduled shipments in June 2025 include 117,600t for Jah Multi Industries on two separate dates, 30,000t for Gacem across two shipments and 38,000t for Salam Cement on 30 June 2025. MoTIE said the government is confident that cement supply will meet market demand without disruption.

UAE: Fujairah Cement has resumed production activities following a halt in January 2025 due to a technical malfunction. The company expects to resume cement despatches from 23 June 2025.

Cameroon: Cimencam, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim-Maroc Afrique, inaugurated its subsidiary Cimencam Figuil’s (CIMFIG) new clinker and cement production line at the Figuil cement plant in Cameroon’s North Region on 12 June 2025, according to the Business in Cameroon newspaper.

The new line, part of an expansion project at the 40-year-old Figuil cement plant, has a cement capacity of 500,000t/yr and a clinker capacity of 1,000t/day. Cimencam invested US$88m in the expansion. The upgraded plant will supply cement to the North, Adamaoua and Far North regions, and aims to enter the Chadian market, which reportedly experiences frequent shortages and high prices.

Spain: Molins has received permits from the Generalitat de Catalunya to begin operating an auxiliary hydrogen generation facility at its Sant Vicenç dels Horts cement plant in Barcelona.

The producer will install a hydrogen production module based on water electrolysis, using water from subway catchments. The system includes osmosis treatment to purify the water prior to splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. The hydrogen will be consumed directly as fuel in the clinker kiln, replacing part of the petcoke currently used to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Molins forecasts hydrogen consumption of 305t/yr and expects to cut CO₂ emissions by 3600t/yr. The company said the project supports its Sustainability Roadmap 2030, which targets a 20% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2020.