Global Cement News

Argentina: Carlos Casado has become the new Director of Operations at Holcim Argentina. He previously held positions for Holcim and LafargeHolcim in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He will be based in Córdoba and will control plants in Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza and Buenos Aires. Casado is an industrial engineer from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, who has 17 years of experience in the LafargeHolcim group.

Australia: Cement fibreboard maker James Hardie has picked its president of international operations Jack Truong to succeed Louis Gries as its new President and CEO. Dr Truong, who currently heads the firm's Asia Pacific fibre cement business and the Europe building products unit, will become global president and CEO for a six-month transition period as Mr Gries winds down his 13-year spell in charge. A former chief executive of Electrolux North America, Dr Truong has held his current role since April 2017.

“Jack offers the ideal combination of commercial expertise, operational excellence, and leadership in order to continue to grow the business and maintain the industry-leading performance, across the multiple geographies established by Louis over a long period," said chairman Michael Hammes.

India: The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), has appointed Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd as its new Chairman. Mr Singhi has been a part of the board of Governors of NCCBM since 2013.

Commenting on the occasion, NCCBM Director General, Ashutosh Saxena, said, "We are fortunate to have someone of Mr Singhi’s calibre and experience to lead NCCBM. We are at a critical phase of development of our centres of excellence and we need renewed leadership to successfully implement our research, strengthen our technology initiatives and take advantage of the opportunities ahead for sustainable development of cement and construction sector. Mahendra Singhi is a technology visionary with a proven track record of execution. Furthermore, as a member of NCCBM’s board of governors for the past five years, he has a deep understanding of its capabilities and potential."

A prominent figure in the Indian manufacturing industry, Mahendra Singhi has played a prominent role in the growth and development of the country’s cement sector over the last 40 years. Beginning in 1978 with Birla Group, he has held leadership positions with major cement companies: Shree Digvijay Cement, UltraTech Cement and Shree Cement, in various capacities. He led Shree Cement before his present appointment. He serves as co-chair of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) in India and Vice-President of Cement Manufacturer’s Association (CMA).

On his appointment Mahendra Singhi said, "I am really honoured to be trusted with the top job at NCCBM, after successfully completing five wonderful years of association with the council. It has been a tremendously rewarding journey over the years of my work in the cement industry. It would be my utmost endeavour to promote research and scientific work connected with waste to wealth, cement and building materials trade and industry and I am certain that together with NCCBM, we will make huge strides and carry out many ambitious projects to make impact on society worldwide."

Egypt: Helwan Cement has agreed to sell its white cement plant in Minya Governorate to Emmar Industries. The transaction is planned to take place following the de-merger of the white cement unit from the rest of the company. The subsidiary of HeidelbergCement and Suez Cement said that the sale was part of its plan to restructure the business and improve its financial position. The company previously said it had received bid for the white cement plant in June 2018.

Egypt: The Ministry of Public Business Sector has shut down the National Company for Cement due to mounting losses. Hisham Tawfik, the Minister of Public Business, said that the plant’s losses had reached Euro43m in the last year, according to Egypt Today magazine. Its creditors include the Gas Company and the Egyptian Electricity Company.

The company’s registration with the local stock exchange was closed in August 2018. The government is now intending to sell its stocks in the Suez Cement Company and Al-Nahda Company. The company’s assets will then be sold. The minister said that workers aged 50 years or more will receive redundancy and that younger workers will be moved to other cement companies.

The cement producer reported mounting losses in recent years due to higher production costs. Reportedly, the cost of producing one ton of cement was 60% higher than the average comparable cost of its competitors. In addition the company was paying its workers twice the average wage than other state-owned businesses.