Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement has announced that it has completed the repayment of a US$12m loan from Banque Saudi Fransi. Mubasher news has reported that the loan had been due for repayment in instalments in the first half of 2020. The cement producer retains US$94.6m in outstanding loans.

Pakistan: Power Cement says it has started commercial operation of its new 7700t/day clinker production line at its Nooriabad plant. It completed the procurement and installation of machinery for the new line in mid-2019. It was supplied by Denmark’s FLSmdith.

Iran: A new cement company has registered with the Tehran stock exchange. Called Tamin Cement Holding, it says that it will invest in cement, other related products and construction, according to the filing.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and Saudi Arabian-based Engineering Dimension International Investment (EDII) have formed a joint-venture called Saudi Bangla Integrated Cement in order to build a new integrated cement plant. The proposed unit will have a clinker production capacity of 12,000t/day, according to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. It will be supplied with limestone from Meghalaya in India via a long conveyor belt. If realised the project is expected to create up to 700 direct and indirect jobs. Government-owned BCIC previously signed a partnership agreement with EDII in late 2018.