Global Cement News

Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Industrial Exports Company (SIEC) has signed a one-year sales and marketing contract extension with Al Jouf Cement. It previously agreed with Al Jouf in November 2017 to sell 72,000t/yr to Jordan.

Nigeria: The Senate of Nigeria has urged the Federal Ministry of Transportation to complete the construction of the Ajaokuta - Otukpo railway line. The legislative chamber also advised the ministry to include a siding at Okaba to Ankpa as part of the project to make coal transportation easier, according to the Vanguard newspaper. Cement companies, including Dangote Cement’s Obajana plant and the Kogi State Super Cement Company at Allo-Itobe, would benefit from reduced coal prices. At present their coal is delivered by road. The railway project would also aid the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

Cuba: Following 18 months of reduced operations in which time maintenance and repairs on its grey cement kilns were carried out, Corporacion Cementos Cubanos’ 0.7Mt/yr Siguaney plant is once more fully operational across its four wet lines. Esmerk has reported that the company hopes to re-open its white cement kiln at the nearest possible date.

Bangladesh: Confidence Cement’s power supply subsidiary Confidence Power Bogra has entered operation at its new 113MW heavy fuel oil (HFO)-fired power plant at Birgram. The Financial Express has reported that it utilises Germany-based MAN’s generators and a substation manufactured by China’s XD. The Indian boilermaker ME provided the boiler. The power station will supply Confidence Cement’s operations via repurchase from the Bangladesh Power Development Board.

Kenya: Mombasa Cement has completed construction of a 36MW wind farm consisting of 12 3MW turbines in Vipingo. Bahrain News Agency has reported that the plant will power Mombasa Cement’s 1.6Mt/yr integrated Vipingo cement plant, with surplus to be sold to the state-owned power provider Kenya Power. The power plant will supply electricity for the completion of Mombasa Cement’s planned US$73m upgrade to its grey cement clinker production process at the Vipingo plant.