Global Cement News

Pakistan: Fauji Cement has renewed Qamar Haris Manzoor as its managing director and chief executive officer (CEO). His current term will last three years until mid-December 2024. Qamar Haris Manzoor was first appointed as the head of the cement company in mid-2020.

Qamar Haris Manzoor holds over 33 years of experience in plant and project management. He started his career with ICI managing its soda ash plant operations subsequently working for Lotte Chemical, amongst other roles, where he eventually became its director of manufacturing. He later became the CEO of El Paso Technology Pakistan before following this with other leading roles at Hawa Energy and Naveena Group. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the US in addition to management qualifications.

Peru: FLSmidth has secured a contract for the supply of a new pyro line for Cementos Pacasmayo’s Pacasmayo cement plant near Lima. The new line will give the plant an additional production capacity of 0.6Mt/yr. The supplier says that it plans to install a Cross-Bar cooler, low-NO_x calciner, Jetflex burner, equipment for dosing and feeding and process automation. FLSmidth says that the upgrade will reduce the plant’s energy consumption and open new opportunities for the use of alternative fuel (AF).

FLSmidth’s head of projects and upgrades and senior vice president Anders Josefsen said “We are very excited to work with Cementos Pacasmayo on this project – not only on growing the business, but doing it in a sustainable way. The new line will be equipped with a state-of-the-art pyro system including several of our MissionZero solutions. With this, Pacasmayo makes a significant investment in future-proofing its production.” He added “The Pacasmayo project is a prime example of our capabilities within process design: ensuring the integration to an existing plant, while also demonstrating our ability to deliver equipment that meets demands for energy and fuel efficiency.”

Vietnam: Vietcombank Securities Company (VCBS) has forecast a 16% year-on-year rise in Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports to 44.5Mt from 38.4Mt. 22.3Mt (50%) of the 2021 exports will be to China. Viet Nam News has reported that VCBS forecast a drop in Vietnam’s cement and clinker exports to China in 2022 due to a Chinese property market slowdown. From 2023, the Vietnam government plans to raise its clinker export tariff to 10% from 5%.

India: SCG International India has announced the launch of a joint venture with autoclaved aerated concrete block producer Bigbloc Construction. The joint venture will produce and sell lightweight concrete panels. It expects to commission a new 2.6Mm³/yr concrete panel plant in Gujarat in 2022. Bigbloc Construction holds the majority 52% stake in the venture.

India: A Telangana court has blocked Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana from disconnecting the power supply to some of Anjani Portland Cement’s cement operations in the state. The power supply is seeking to take the measure among other ‘coercive steps’ in an on-going dispute with the producer. Reuters News has reported that Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana has issued a demand letter for alleged breach of obligations by Anjani Portland Cement.