Gabon: Cement production rose by 42% year-on-year to 0.49Mt in 2018 from 0.34Mt in 2017. Sales rose at a similar rate to 0.49Mt, according to Infos Gabon. The Ministry of Economy attributed the growth in production and sales to the government’s decision to suspend imports of cement in mid-2017.

Colombia: Ordinary Portland Cement production grew by 4% year-on-year to 3.05Mt in the first quarter of 2019 from 2.93Mt in the same period in 2018. Data from DANE, the Colombian statistics authority, shows that deliveries to the local market increased slightly, by 3%, to 2.94Mt.

Algeria: Ciment Lafarge Souakri (CILAS) has started exporting a consignment of 30,000t of cement to Cameroon. The operation was handled via the port of Annaba, according to Radio Algeria. It is the cement producer’s sixth large-scale export operation to another Africa country. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim is using Lafarge Trading to supply logistical support.

Philippines: Republic Cement has held a rally assembling over one thousand construction workers at its Norzagaray Plant to aim for five million safe man hours. The cement producer has reached 4.5 million man hours at its expansion projects at Bulacan, Batangas and Iligan. This includes no lost-time injuries or fatalities.

“Safety is not a punishment. It’s not a punishment to wear your helmet, boots, or harness. It’s a gift of life - the life of your fellow workers and of your family,” said
Roy Ruedas, Project Lead at Aboitiz Construction.