Pakistan: Fecto Cement has temporarily suspended operations at its 1Mt/yr cement plant in Sangjani, Islamabad. According to the company, the plant is its primary manufacturing facility and serves northern Pakistan and export markets in Afghanistan. The suspension is reportedly due to administrative issues and ‘procedural matters with local authorities.’

The company did not provide an estimate for when it expects production to resume, but said that it ‘does not foresee any long-term adverse impact’ on its financial position.

Kenya: Bamburi Cement has signed a US$250m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Sinoma CBMI to build a new 1.6Mt/yr grinding plant in Matuga, Kwale County. The project is part of Bamburi’s strategy to more than double its clinker production from 1Mt/yr to 2.6Mt/yr and its cement capacity from 1.8Mt/yr to 4Mt/yr. The plant will feature a six-stage precalciner system and integrate technology to cut its emissions, including the use of alternative fuels such as coconut husks, cashew shells and municipal solid waste.

“The new clinker line will greatly reduce reliance on imported clinker, improving quality production consistency and securing supply for the domestic market,” said Bamburi Cement CEO Mohit Kapoor at the signing ceremony, which was also attended by President William Ruto. Kapoor added that the investment would save foreign exchange resources, stabilise prices and support rising demand from national infrastructure projects and private sector development.

Peru: Holcim has announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Cementos Pacasmayo, expanding its footprint in the country and strengthening its position across Latin America. Holcim will acquire 50.01% of the company for US$550m, according to Reuters. Cementos Pacasmayo operates three cement plants with a total capacity of approximately 5Mt/yr, along with 28 ready-mix and precast concrete plants. The deal values the company at US$1.5bn.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions. The acquisition follows Holcim’s initial entry into the Peruvian market in 2024.

Germany: Spot, the autonomous robotic dog developed by Boston Dynamics, has joined operations at Heidelberg Materials’ Leimen grinding plant, taking on regular inspection duties to support on-site engineering teams. Equipped with advanced sensors and digital tools, Spot independently navigates buildings, monitors machine thresholds, detects anomalies and leaks early, and captures inspection data for real-time decision-making. The robot has already covered more than 4km autonomously, completed more than 20 inspection rounds, and recorded over 700 inspection points across the plant’s machines and equipment.

The team will now focus on validating Spot’s data, optimising its routes and expanding its inspection coverage.