Global Cement News

Sweden: Cementa is developing a new cement that uses fly ash for sale by 2015. The project is part of the Swedish subsidiary of HeidelbergCement's drive to reduce its carbon emissions by 2030 and to meet the growing environmental requirements of its customers.

"We see this as a natural further step in our vision of zero carbon emissions by 2030," said Fredrik Jansson, Vice President and Marketing Director at Cementa.

Germany: AVIC International Beijing Company (AVIC) has lead an offer to buy KHD Humboldt Wedag International AG in a deal worth US$433m. It hopes to acquire all of the remaining KHD shares by way of a voluntary public takeover offer.

At the same time it has entered into share purchase agreements with numerous sellers to purchase 19.03% of shares in the German cement plant builder. Through its subsidiary, Max Glory Industries, AVIC already owns 20% of KHD, which will bring its total to 39.03%.

"This is a long-term investment for us. A more stable shareholder base will benefit KHD's worldwide employees, customers, suppliers and financing partners and KHD will continue providing environmental friendly and state-of-the-arts products and services," said Mr Diao, president of AVIC Beijing Company.

China: China's State Council, the country's cabinet, has issued a guideline to tackle production overcapacity in several industrial sectors. According to a statement on the Chinese government's website and reporting by the Xinhua News Agency, the guideline targets the cement sector and four other sectors suffering from overcapacity including steel, electrolytic aluminium, sheet glass and shipping.

The move is a key measure for the government to achieve stable growth, restructuring, transformation and an 'upgraded' version of the Chinese economy, according to the 'Guideline to tackle serious production overcapacity'. The guideline will play a key part in current and future efforts to transform the economic growth mode and boost industrial restructuring, according to the statement.

Qatar: FLSmidth has confirmed reports in the Qatari media that it has entered into an agreement with Qatari Investors Group to supply equipment and machinery for a cement plant in Qatar. The Danish cement plant manufacturer provided no further details although it intends to inform the market when a contract is finalised and becomes binding.

According to local media Qatari Investors Group has entered into an agreement with FLSmidth and the CNBM International for a US$190m expansion of its subsidiary, Al Khaliji Cement. The cement plant's second line will double its clinker production capacity to 12,000t/day and its cement production capacity will rise to 14,000t/day.

Pakistan: Lucky Cement has won the Green Supply Chain Award at the 3rd International Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain conference held in Karachi. The conference was organised by the Publicity Channel with the support of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to acknowledge companies that are making sustainability a core part of their supply chain strategy.

The Pakistan-based cement producer has initiated a number of sustainability projects such as alternative fuel, energy conservation and plantation drives. In addition, the company's captive power plants have been upgraded to improve environmental efficiency.

"As an industry leader we have a huge responsibility to foster a culture of environmental sustainability throughout the manufacturing sector. We take pride in stating that we have done this job above par, owing to our innovative strategies in acquiring green technology across all our operations," said Lucky Cement Chief Operating Officer Noman Hasan.