Global Cement News

UK: Breedon Group has appointed Nigel Clamp as Group Head of Health, Safety and Environment. He will assume overall responsibility for the health and safety of Breedon’s 3000-strong workforce, as well as overseeing the group’s environmental and sustainability activities.

Clamp joins Breedon from HeidelbergCement, where he was Health & Safety Director for the company’s Africa & Eastern Mediterranean Basin Region. He was previously Senior Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Manager at Hanson, prior to which he served as Head of Safety at National Express. He spent the earlier part of his career in a number of quarry management and SHE roles with Lafarge.

China: Tianrui Cement’s revenue rose by 27.6% year-on-year to US$778m in the first half of 2018 from US$610m in the same period in 2017. Its profit grew by 63.9% to US$131m from US$80m. Its cement sales volumes rose by 9.8% to 14.6Mt. Sales increased faster in Central China than Northeastern China. It attributed the result to its market strategy and increased prices.

Panama: Argos Panama plans to install a line for the production and storage of clinker at its plant in Buena Vista, Colón Province. In an environmental impact study submitted to Panama’s Ministry of Environment, Argos estimated the total cost of the project, called the Balboa Project, at US$168m.

Dominican Republic: Adriano Brunetti, the president of the Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (ADOCEM), says that local production is forecast to grow by 8% year-on-year to 4.8Mt in 2019. His prediction was based on 12.5% growth in the construction sector in the first four months of the year, according to the Acento newspaper. He added that local cement producers have a production capacity of around 8Mt/yr. The country exports around 1Mt/yr to other countries in the Caribbean.

Afghanistan: The Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has reported progress in discussions on projects totalling an investment of US$350m, including improvements to the Jabal Siraj and Samangan cement plants worth US$170m and US$136m respectively.

Wadsam reports that the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries has voiced concerns as to delays caused by the lengthy approval process for the ‘much-needed projects.’ With the successful conclusion of these talks, the plans will require the ratification of the High Economic Council and subsequently the Afghan Cabinet.