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Republic Cement prepares for infrastructure boom 17 August 2016
Philippines: Republic Cement is expanding its grinding capacity by over 10% in anticipation of a rise in demand prompted by increased government infrastructure spending. Other planned upgrades include an improved dust collection system at the cement producer’s plant in Bulacan. The company is also considering building new cement plants. Company president Renato C Sunico made the comments to local press at a forum on social housing.
The government of the Philippines has cited public infrastructure as one of its general spending priorities, setting aside US$18.5bn, which is equivalent to 5.4% of gross domestic product, in 2017.
India: JK Lakshmi Cement has received environment clearance to expand its limestone mine output in Sirohi, Rajasthan to 13Mt/yr from 8Mt/yr. The expansion will cost US$17.9m and the mined material will supply the cement producer’s Sirohi plant, according to the Press Trust of India.
Crushed limestone will be transported to the plant via a covered conveyor and no local transport infrastructure will be required for the proposed project. Water will be sourced from the West Banas dam. The company has a limestone mine lease area of 390.62 hectare. It is an opencast mine and the lease is valid up to 2030.
The mine expansion will subject to conditions, including acquiring any applicable clearances from the National Board for Wildlife and consent from the State Pollution Control Board. The company has also been asked to conduct hydro-geological study and to obtain the recommendations of Central Ground Water Authority.
US: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a final order settling charges, following a public comment period, that the proposed US$4.2bn merger of German cement producer HeidelbergCement and Italian producer Italcementi would likely be anticompetitive. Under the order, first announced in June 2016, the companies are required to divest to an FTC-approved buyer an Essroc cement plant and quarry in Martinsburg, West Virginia; seven Essroc terminals in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; and a Lehigh terminal in Solvay, New York. At the buyer’s option, the order also requires the merged company to divest two additional Essroc terminals in Ohio.
Cementos San Marcos orders Loesche coal mill 17 August 2016
Colombia: Cementos San Marcos has ordered a vertical roller mill to grind coal from Loesche. The order follows a previous purchase of a LM 35.2+2 mill to grind cement. The new coal mill will replace an existing smaller mill and reuse its foundation. The classifier and the plant ducting equipment will also be part of the contract. The cement plant was designed as a two-phase project to start a conservative market entry with the aim to more than double production capacity to meet market needs within a short period of time. The new coal mill fits into phase two of this progression.
Martin Marietta elects new board members
Written by Global Cement staff
17 August 2016
US: Martin Marietta Materials has elected two new directors to its board. John J Koraleski, former Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Union Pacific Corporation, was elected to Martin Marietta's Board of Directors on 15 August 2016. Koraleski, aged 65 years, also served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Union Pacific from February 2015 until his retirement in September 2015. Koraleski will serve on Martin Marietta's Audit Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee, and Executive Committee.
At its Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May 2016, Donald W Slager was elected to Martin Marietta's Board of Directors. Slager, aged 54 years, is President and CEO of Republic Services, as well as a member of its Board of Directors. Slager will serve on Martin Marietta's Finance Committee and Ethics, Environment, Safety and Health Committee.
The two new directors fill the seats previously held by Frank H Menaker, Jr and Richard A Vinroot, both of whom reached the mandatory retirement age provided in Martin Marietta's bylaws. They were not eligible for election at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and retired from the Board after 23 and 20 years of service to the company, respectively.
Martin Marietta's 10-member Board of Directors now consists of nine outside directors.