Global Cement News

South Africa: The Competition Tribunal has confirmed an agreement between PPC and the South African Competition Commission granting the company immunity from prosecution in an investigation allegedly involving price fixing and market sharing between local cement producers from 1995 to 2009. The Cape Times newspaper has reported that the ruling additionally granted the company immunity from related fines. PPC has reportedly agreed not to engage in price fixing or prohibited conduct in the future. The Commission said, "In addition, it will have to develop a competition law compliance programme."

AfriSam and Lafarge Industries South Africa paid fines related to the case. However, a case against Natal Portland Cement (NPC) was dismissed.

Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has written to Aramit Cement to seek an explanation for the company’s transfer of around US$9m as an interest-free loan to a sister company. The Dhaka Tribune newspaper says that the cement producer reported a loss in the financial year to 30 June 2020 and issued no dividend to its shareholders. However, had the company charged 10% interest on the loan, it could enabled the payment of a 20% cash dividend to shareholders. BSEC subsequently sought information on loans to associated companies.

Company secretary Syed Kamruzzaman said, “The board of directors would explain the issue to the BSEC soon.” The BSEC has ordered a refund of the loan along with interest by the end of November 2020.

US: Austin Quinn-Davidson, the acting mayor of Anchorage in Alaska, has announced that the city’s new cement and petroleum terminal at the Port of Alaska will be completed by late 2021. The Anchorage Daily News has reported that the estimated US$203m terminal will last for 75 years and be able to endure future seismic events like the earthquake that damaged the port in November 2018.

Municipal manager Bill Falsey said, “Even in these challenging times, we can still do big and important and challenging things.” He estimated the eventual total cost of an upgrade to the port would be around US$1bn.

Colombia: Cementos Argos is celebrating its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the eighth consecutive year. The company said that the listing acknowledges its “good practices in economic, environmental and social matters.” Its owner Grupo Argos came second in the materials sector, which accounted for 4.3% of the total index weight, while the company itself came third. The index also highlighted it within the Latin American Integrated Market (MILA)-Pacific Alliance.

The company said, “One of the main advantages of this index is that it is a lever to promote cutting-edge business practices that seek to improve the impact of companies on society and the environment and, increasingly, to strengthen their relationship with different interest groups, whether they are communities, investors, suppliers, employees or authorities, among others.”

Uruguay: Spain-based Cementos Molins and Brazil-based Votorantim Cimentos subsidiary Cementos Artigas plans to invest US$40m in upgrading its integrated Minas clinker plant with the addition of a vertical roller mill and new cement silos in order to consolidate its clinker production and grinding capacity at the site. The El Periodico newspaper has reported that, as a result, the producer will shut its Sayago grinding plant, leading to a net reduction in production costs of 40%.

Work will begin by early 2021 and the company will commission the new integrated production line in 2022. Cementos Molins chief executive officer (CEO) Julio Rodriguez said, “With this new investment we continue to develop our strategy, in which sustainability and respect for the environment are the first priority. At the same time, it is also a clear sign of our long-term commitment to the Uruguayan market where we have been present since 1991.”