Mexico: Installation of two Loesche petcoke grinding plants will be installed at La Cruz Azul’s cement plants Lagunas and Hidalgo later in 2019.

Both mills are LM 41.4 D type coal mills, the largest of their type. They will form part of new production lines at each of the two plants. In addition to the mills, which both have a capacity of 50-65t/hr, Loesche will also supply process gas filters, mill fans, inerting units, explosion vents, cyclone separators, conveyor augers and drag chain conveyors, as well as the complete electrotechnical equipment. The scope of supply also includes the complete detail engineering for the steel and concrete construction.

The equipment has already been fully dispatched. Installation is planned to start in December 2019 in Hidalgo. Installation of the grinding plant in Lagunas has already begun.

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has announced the conclusion of its acquisition of a mortar production unit from Supermassa. The plant, located in Ananindeua, Belem, in the state of Para, has capacity of 0.15Mt/yr. Votorantim Cimentos notes that the total investment, including the acquisition, modernisation of technology, installation of automation and other improvements, will total US$4.3m.

The acquisition is part of the company's growth and geographical diversification strategy. The purchase is the company's 11th mortar production unit, and brings its mortar production capacity up to 2.5Mt/yr.

Egypt: Suez Cement made a loss during the first half of 2019. Its net loss reached US$17.7m over the six month period, from a profit of US$14.4m in the first six months of 2018. The company generated US$199m in revenue during the first six months of 2019, compared to US$238m a year earlier.

Guatemala: Cementos Progreso has received the National Award for Cleaner Production and the Sello Ambiental award in recognition of meeting environmental guidelines and having effective environmental management systems. The company has implemented preventative, proactive and inclusive systems across all of its operations and business units. This includes limestone and aggregate quarries, aggregate crushing, premixed concrete production, bag factories and the Estadio Cementos Progreso multi-sports stadium.