Global Cement News

India: JSW Cement has signed a US$50m sustainability-linked loan agreement with BNP Paribas Singapore. The Hindu BusinessLine newspaper has reported that the producer plans to use the funds for capital expenditure projects aimed to more than double its production capacity to 50Mt/yr from 17Mt/yr. Current plans include US$388m in investments in the construction of a 2.5Mt/yr integrated cement plant in Madhya Pradesh and a 2.5Mt/yr grinding plant in Uttar Pradesh.

The latest loan from BNP Paribas is the second of its kind taken by the group, following a US$48.5m sustainability-linked loan from Japan-based MUFG Bank in October 2022.

India: Dalmia Bharat has announced a capacity target of 120Mt/yr by the end of 2031. The Business Standard newspaper has reported that the producer will make total investments of US$2.31bn in its on-going growth drive. The sum includes US$723m invested in the acquisition of Jaypee Group's 9.4Mt/yr cement business in December 2022. Dalmia Bharat's eventual investments in erecting new capacity are estimated at US$1.09bn, US$485m (44%) of it in its North Indian cement business.

CEO Puneet Dalmia said “We are executing the largest capital expenditure in our history.” Regarding the Jaypee Group deal, Dalmia said "The acquisition will give us access to Central India’s and North India’s markets and we would look for more acquisition opportunities in the mid segment. We expect the industry to consolidate further in the coming years. India will invest US$1Tn in infrastructure in the next decade, and that will create a sizeable demand growth for cement.”

Sweden: Nordkalk has produced lime at its Koping lime plant using 30% biofuel as alternative fuel (AF). The producer now aims to increase the substitution rate to 50%. Nordkalk subsidiary Kalkproduktion Storugns recently began trialling 100% liquid biofuel substitution in continuous operations at its Larbro lime plant. ENP Newswire has reported that both projects are part of a CO₂ emissions reduction initiative in partnership with the Swedish Energy Agency and Umea University.

US: Heidelberg Materials North America will inaugurate its new 2.4Mt/yr Mitchell cement plant in Indiana on 13 June 2023. The plant cost US$600m to build and is Heidelberg Materials' 'most technologically advanced and sustainable' cement plant, according to the company. It includes a 32,000t/yr cement terminal, served by a newly renovated rail depot. Heidelberg Materials North America has commissioned 1000 new rail cars to assist in efficient distribution of cement produced at the Mitchell plant.

Uzbekistan: Bekabadcement is carrying out a 'large-scale' upgrade to its 0.7Mt/yr Bekabadcement plant in Tashkent Region. The producer said that the upgrade involves a 20% capacity expansion of the plant's production line to 2500t/day. Austria-based Unitherm CemCon supplied burners for the upgraded line, while China-based Beijing Triumph International Engineering supplied heat exchanger components and a KC 4.1-0955 cooler. The upgrade also involves the installation of new kiln lining, and will transition the plant's cement production from wet to dry process. Germany-based Christian Pfeiffer previously upgraded the Bekabad cement plant's grinding unit in April 2023.

General director Vasily Korobkin "We see that (parent company) United Cement Group (UCG) is interested in the modernisation and development of the enterprise. The group adheres to international standards, so all plans for the development of the plant are built accordingly." He concluded "We expect to become a modern and successful enterprise in Uzbekistan which is capable of becoming a major player in the cement industry of Central Asia.”