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Cement producers asked to reduce prices in Assam 22 August 2016
India: Cement producers have been asked to reduce their prices in Assam following an intervention by the state’s chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The official held meetings with 25 companies following reports of 10% local price rises in the last three months. Sonowal asked the producers why their prices had risen so fast and affirmed his administration’s commitment to stabilising the prices of commodities, according to the Times of India.
Cement Association of Canada supports province climate plan 22 August 2016
Canada: The Cement Association of Canada has congratulated the province of British Columbia on the release of its Climate Leadership Plan. The plan describes how industry can assist the government in meeting its 2050 targets. The association welcomes the commitment of the provincial government to mandate the use of Portland-limestone cement (PLC) in concrete used in the construction of public infrastructure projects. Using PLC is expected to deliver a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the use of ordinary Portland cement.
“With today's release of the Climate Leadership Plan, the province of British Columbia has laid out a framework to work collaboratively with individuals, local governments, business and industry in finding ways to address climate change,” said Michael McSweeney, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada.
China: Huaxin Cement’s has made a net loss of US$20.5m in the first half of 2016 compared to a net profit of US$4.29m in the same period of 2015. Its sales revenue fell by 14% to US$361m from US$420m. The cement producer attributed its decline in net profit and operating costs to a fall in cement prices.
Burkina Faso: Intercem has released details of a cement grinding plant that it is building with Kanis International Group for Cimasso in Bobo Dioulasso. The order is the third contract between Kanis International and Intercem and it is the largest such order in Intercem’s history. The contract was agreed in March 2016 and groundbreaking of the 6500t/day plant took place in late May 2016. No value for the order has been disclosed.
Intercem’s scope of supply for Cimasso comprises the engineering, the supply of mechanical and electrical equipment of exclusively European origin, the project management and the supervision of erection as well as the commissioning. The order includes: train unloading station for clinker; truck unloading for lime and additives; storage of 100,000t of clinker and raw materials; raw material shed and dosing station; 6500t/day cement grinding plant with vertical roller mill; four 4000t cement silos; and, 8000t/day loading of cement bags, including a truck loading station.
Tanzanian cement producers asked to complain to government 19 August 2016
Tanzania: Charles Mwijage, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, has advised local cement producers to complain to the government regarding imports of cement and a ban on imported coal. Mwijage made the comments at the inauguration of Tanga Cement’s second clinker production line, according to the Tanzania Daily News newspaper.
"We ask the government to either stop the imports or at least impose higher tariffs on imported clinkers. We are also pleading with the government to ensure clinkers on transit reach their destinations. This will remove unfair competition in the market," said Reinhardt Swart, the managing director of Tanga Cement.
The cement producer has complained to the government previously about the same issues. He added that the some of the cheap products were clinker on transit that are diverted to the local market and then sold cheaply because they are not taxed. In addition the government ban on coal imports has raised the company’s energy costs. Swart said that the company is also appealing to the government to secure more reliable electricity supplies.