Global Cement News

Zimbabwe: PPC Zimbabwe says that a planned fly ash beneficiation project at a power plant in Zimbabwe will now take place in early 2025 instead of in 2024. This is due to delays in accessing the power plant to complete the design and commercial contract, according to the cement producer. The Chronicle newspaper has reported that, as a result, PPC Zimbabwe’s capital expenditure investments so far in 2024 are behind its previous full-year guidance of US$31.8m.

Italy: Bedeschi has finalised a new contract to supply Buzzi Unicem’s Guidonia integrated cement plant with a double-stage crushing unit. Each machine has a capacity of 750t/hr with two 315kW power systems installed. The system will receive limestone lumps of up to 600mm in diameter and will output limestone lumps below 50mm. No value for the order has been disclosed.

China: China Tianrui Group Cement's sales were US$1.09bn in 2023, down by 32% year-on-year from US$1.60bn. Reuters has reported that the company recorded a full-year loss of US$87.6m, where previously it recorded a profit of US$62m in 2022.

India: Udaipur Cement has commissioned a new grinding unit at its Udaipur cement plant in Rajasthan. The unit more than doubles the plant’s grinding capacity from 2.2Mt/yr to 4.7Mt/yr. Capital Market News has reported that the Udaipur plant now has an integrated capacity of 3Mt/yr, following the establishment of a second 1.5Mt/yr clinker line there in October 2023.

The company said "Udaipur Cement has been a pioneer in the promotion of various green initiatives. The company is the only one in the entire Indian cement industry with a 1MW floating solar power plant at its mines. During the fourth quarter of the 2024 financial year, the company also doubled its Udaipur cement plant’s waste heat recovery capacity from 6MW to 12MW. This has enabled Udaipur Cement to achieve a green energy share of more than 50% in total electrical energy consumption."

Egypt: Sinai Cement reported a reduction in its consolidated net loss after tax in 2023, amounting to US$2.57m, down from US$7m in 2022. The company's net sales saw an increase, reaching US$90.8m in 2023, up from US$49.6m the previous year.