Algeria: El-Hamel Sidi Moussa group’s Timegten cement plant has made its first 2000t export to Niger. The Chinese-Algerian joint venture used the Freight Transport and Logistics Group (Logitrans) to make the delivery overland via the In-Guezzam border crossing, according to Radio Algeria. The 1.2Mt/yr plant plans to target other countries, including Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.

The Euro156m plant was commissioned in 2017. It is being run under a seven-year cooperation agreement where the Chinese partners manage the unit until the local workforce is trained. The plant also manufactures oil well cement.

Spain: The local council in Alcudia, Mallorca is considering a licence application for the construction of a 65,000t cement terminal at its port. The application follows the end of a public consultation period, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin newspaper. The unit plans to have a capacity of at least 65,000t for the four years of its operation and then it will rise to 90,000t. It will use a pneumatic conveying system to minimise dust pollution emissions.

The Balearic Ports Authority previously gave its authorisation to the project in 2018 but it has faced opposition from environmental protestors. Cemex announced in late 2018 that it intended to stop production at its Lloseta cement plant on the island.

Bolivia: President Evo Morales plans to prioritise the use of local produced cement for the construction new roads. He made the comment on a tour of a new cement plant being built at Caracollo, Oruro, according to the Pagina Siete newspaper. A decree or law will be used to enforce local government to use Bolivian-produced cement.

Denmark: FLSmidth has acquired IMP Automation Group, a manufacturer of automated laboratory equipment for the mining industry with a presence in Australia and South Africa. The purchase covers over 130 IMP employees, including the managing director, Boyne Hohenstein. Links between the digital initiatives at both companies are intended to give end users better data on their mineral ores and assist in optimising the processing. The deal also includes a 50% share in a joint venture that IMP owns, providing observation and measurement products for automated labs.

"In FLSmidth we have found a partner with the right global sales network to take us to the next level. For years, we have combined profound laboratory process knowledge with automation skills and developed novel and innovative solutions. I am very excited that we now can reach a global audience with our offerings and solutions", said Hohenstein.