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Oman: Oman Cement’s profit has risen by 39% year-on-year to US$26m for the first nine months of 2016 from US$18.1m in the same period of 2015. Its revenue grew by 12.45% to US$114m from US$101m.
ACC cement grinding plant in Jharkhand to start in November 2016 11 October 2016
India: ACC has said that its new cement grinding plant at Sindri, Jharkhand will become operational in November 2016. This follows the start of commercial production of a new clinker production line at its plant at Jamul, Chhattisgarh in July 2016 and the start of that site’s grinding plant on 14 September 2016.
European Commission starts investigation into HeidelbergCement and Schwenk's joint acquisition of Cemex Croatia 11 October 2016
Croatia: The European Commission has opened an investigation to check whether the proposed acquisition of Cemex Croatia by HeidelbergCement and Schwenk is in line with the European Union (EU) Merger Regulation. The commission has concerns that the proposed takeover may reduce competition for grey cement in Croatia. It will make its decision by 23 February 2017.
"The construction sector, like any other sector, needs competition. As cement is an essential part of the sector we need to make sure that consolidation does not lead to higher prices for construction companies and ultimately consumers in Croatia," said commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
The commission has concerns regarding the supply of grey cement in southern Croatia, including Dalmatia in particular, where Cemex Croatia operates three cement plants in Split and faces competition from DDC's imports from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is not an EU member. The proposed transaction would combine Cemex Croatia, the largest producer in the area, and DDC, the largest importer. The commission's initial investigation indicates that the proposed transaction may remove a significant competitor from an already concentrated regional market.
The remaining actual or potential suppliers may exercise only limited competitive pressure on the merged entity because of the transport costs to reach southern Croatia. Additionally, the domestic cement suppliers Cemex Croatia and LafargeHolcim control all the cement terminals in ports along the Croatian coast. The commission has preliminary concerns that the transaction may strengthen the market power of Cemex Croatia in southern Croatia and result in price increases for grey cement.
HeidelbergCement and Schwenk plan to acquire, via their joint subsidiary DDC, assets in Croatia and Hungary that currently belonging to Cemex. The Hungarian part of the transaction as been referred to the Hungarian competition authority, so the commission's investigation will focuses on the acquisition of Cemex's Croatian assets.
Tarmac launches new cement packing plant 10 October 2016
UK: Tarmac has launched a cement-packing unit at its Tunstead cement plant in Derbyshire. The Haver and Boecker 10-spout Adams 2000 packing plant increases the plant’s packing capacity. The launch takes place on the site’s 50th anniversary of cement production. The plant will manufacture Tarmac’s range of plastic packed and tubbed cement products for merchant and retail customers. The plant will also be used to house the company’s new 12.5kg mixer bags that were launched earlier in 2016.
“This new plant is an exciting development for us. It enhances our existing UK-wide supply capacity, ensuring we continue to offer customers and end users superior packed cement products, service and supply. As a business with a strong culture of innovation, the plant will use some of our most pioneering developments, such as plastic packaging,” said Kevan Greenhalgh, Packed Business Manager for Tarmac’s Cement business.
The plant has created 23 new jobs at Tunstead, which employs around 450 people. It will also offer training opportunities for existing employees, through the use of the packing plant’s automated technology. The plant launch coincides with the recent upgrading of Tunstead’s rail freight infrastructure, part of Tarmac’s strategy to support sustainable delivery of materials, and cut transport CO2 by 10% by 2020.
Intercem marks progress on Kampala Cement grinding plant 10 October 2016
Uganda: Intercem has released details on its project to build a cement grinding plant for Kampala Cement. The equipment producer has supplied a 90t/hr cement grinding plant with a ball mill, a clinker storage and four 1000t steel cement silos.
Intercem’s scope of supply included all works except for the foundations. Three separate vibration feeders, two belt conveyors and a bucket elevator were installed. The four silos dispose of truck loading stations and the finished product is transported via air conveyor troughs from the silos to the new packing line. The contract between Kampala Cement and Intercem was originally signed in September 2014.
An additional contract was placed by Kampala Cement at the end of 2015 to order a Pozzolan-Dryer as well as a further storage for primary crushing and drying of the raw material due to the discovery of a higher humidity content of the raw material than originally specified. Construction and installation of these additional assets has finished and the plant including the Pozzolan-Dryer, with a throughput of 40 t/hr, has also been commissioned.