Global Cement News

India: The Supreme Court has ruled that depository and clearing agent IL&FS Securities Services (ISSL) release US$52.4m to Dalmia Cement owner Dalmia Bharat. The money was alleged stolen by Allied Financial Services in 2019, according to the Economic Times newspaper. The trial concerning the alleged theft of mutual fund units continues.

UK: Germany-based HeidelbergCement subsidiary Hanson has received the green light for its planned carbon capture and storage (CCS) study at its Padeswood cement plant in Flintshire after its partner, the HyNet North West consortium received Euro84m in funding. The study will support a design basis and cost estimate for a carbon capture unit at the cement plant and a connection to the planned HyNet North West CO₂ transport and storage system. Euro46m of the funding came from consortium partners while Euro38m came from a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge grant.

Hanson chief executive officer Simon Willis said, “Today’s funding announcement is fantastic news for everyone involved in HyNet North West. Cutting CO₂ emissions is a key priority for us, and we are excited to be one of the first UK cement producers working on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as part of this collaborative project.” He added, “We’ve taken big steps towards reducing carbon emissions and have set ourselves an ambitious target of achieving a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030, based on 1990 levels, and net zero carbon concrete by 2050. CCS at cement plants is a key part of our roadmap to net zero.”

India: UltraTech Cement has selected Germany-based Aumund to supply conveyors, elevators and feeders for its ‘Project Spring’ expansion project to increase its installed production capacity to 130Mt/yr of cement from 117Mt/yr.

The expansion project includes three integrated cement production units in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, each with capacities of up to 10,000t/day. For these kiln lines, Aumund India will supply clinker cooler extraction conveyors as well as the transfer conveyors to the clinker silos. Six cement grinding plants in various locations in India are also part of the capacity expansion plans.

Aumund will supply six pan conveyors, 11 Samson material feeders and 68 bucket elevators including up to 157m-high kiln feed bucket elevators, up to 2200t/hr roller press recirculation bucket elevators and clinker and cement handling bucket elevators, among other products. The order is one of the largest to date for Aumund India.

China: Jidong Cement’s operating income rose by 3% year-on-year to US$5.46bn in 2020 from US$5.31bn in 2019. Its net profit attributable to shareholders grew by 5.5% to US$438m from US$415m. The large-scale producer said that its clinker and cement production capacities reached 117Mt/yr and 170Mt/yr in the reporting period. It operates in Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Chongqing and Henan with a focus in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

UK: Breedon Group’s revenue remained stable in 2020 at Euro1.08bn. Its underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell by 34% year-on-year to Euro89.3m in 2020 from Euro136m in 2019. Cement sales volumes stayed stable at 2Mt but ready-mixed concrete sales volumes dropped by 13% to 2.6Mm³ from 3Mm³. The group reported a strong second half of 2020 following coronavirus-related disruption.

“Although we remain mindful of the ongoing impact of Covis-19, with the worst of the pandemic now hopefully behind us and some welcome clarity on Brexit, I believe the prospects for Breedon and for our industry are increasingly positive,” said Pat Ward, Breedon Group’s chief executive.