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LafargeHolcim to leave cement business in Sri Lanka 03 June 2016
Sri Lanka: LafargeHolcim is exiting its cement business in Sri Lanka, according to the EconomyNext financial news service. A spokesperson said the decision to sell its subsidiary Holcim Lanka was part of a larger global divestment strategy. The company operates the country’s only integrated cement plant, a cement grinding plant and a bagging plant.
Sri Lanka: South Korean conglomerate AFKO Group GMEX has expressed interest in reopening the Kankesanthurai cement plant located in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, the country’s Industry and Commerce Ministry has said, according to the Daily Mirror.
“AFKO specialises in cement projects. We are keen to partner in the Kankesanthurai Cement Project and are ready to enter with US$450m as a start. We shall also bring in all the necessary machinery and technology and can start from scratch. We only need Sri Lanka’s land and labour,” said AFKO Group GMEX chairman Keun Young Lee at a meeting with Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in Colombo. Lee also expressed interest in cement production elsewhere in Sri Lanka.
AFKO intends to start a feasibility study shortly. Ssangyong C&T is the favoured engineering company to start construction at the site. AFKO Group, which merged with Korea’s multinational Hyundai Group in 2008, runs its own construction and cement projects in Africa and elsewhere.
The Kankesanthurai cement plant started operations in 1950 under the Department of Industries and was converted to a public corporation in 1956, being named as Kankesan Cement Works. It closed in 1991 due the civil war. At that time it had a production capacity of 115,000t/yr. In 2011 – 2012 Sri Lanka Cement Corporation and Lanka Cement Limited were planning to resume bagging at the plant. Previously, UAE-based cement company Ras Al Khaimah had been linked to a US$100m investment plan in the plant.
US: Thermo Fisher Scientific have released a new online elemental analyser that can be used in real time quality control for process optimisation in cement production. The Thermo Scientific CB Omni Fusion analyser allows users to choose either an electrically-driven neutron generator or an isotope, Californium (252Cf), as the analyser’s excitation source. This enables them to continuously measure the elemental composition of the entire raw material stream carried on a conveyor belt.
“Cement manufacturers are under increased pressure to maximise resources and reduce costs,” said Kevin Gordon, global marketing manager for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We’ve developed the CB Omni Fusion with flexibility in mind. Quality control managers and operators can gather immediate results from raw material analysis to save time, money and energy, and they can customize the instrument to work best for them.”
The product also features a new software interface suite, Omni View, which allows users to configure the analyser to their process requirements. Additional features of the Thermo Scientific CB Omni Fusion analyser include: auto-diagnostic software to track system health and operational conditions; modular design to facilitate installation on existing conveyor trusses; and one to four large volume detectors and variable tunnel heights to accommodate process conditions.
The Thermo Scientific CB Omni Fusion analyser follows other analytics products from Thermo Fisher Scientific including the CB Omni and CB Omni Flex. It can also be used for elemental analysis in the sinter ore, scrap steel and mineral production processes.
Industrial Development Authority receives eight requests for cement licences after deadline ends 02 June 2016
Egypt: The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has received eight requests from local and international companies for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) licences after the deadline for applications closed on 31 May 2016. IDA Chairperson Ismail Gaber said the authority would start studying submissions in accordance with the rules and regulations approved by the terms of reference and verify their match to requirements within 60 days.
The technical qualification committee decides on the qualified companies to join the bid for obtaining licences. The IDA has completed the delivery of terms of reference on 14 new licences for the launch of OPC projects in nine governorates, with a total production capacity of 28Mt. The applicants are responsible for the management of its energy needs, where 35 local and foreign companies bought 37 terms of reference.
The IDA had previously extended the application period to 31 May 2016 according to Daily News Egypt.
Li Liufa resigns from Shanshui Cement 02 June 2016
China: Li Liufa has resigned from Shanshui Cement with effect from 31 May 2016. He held the positions of an executive director, the chairman of the board, and the chairman of both the nomination committee and the executive committee of the company.
Li stated that his resignation would reduce potential conflicts of interest in any future fundraising campaigns by the company. The company and its major shareholder Tianrui Group is exploring various fundraising options, including equity fundraising, to resolve the financial difficulties of the group and to restore the public float of the company.