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Cimerwa calls for cement imports to be restricted 01 March 2016
Rwanda: The management of Cimerwa has asked that the government prioritise locally-made cement, according to the New Times. Despite opening a new cement plant in mid-2015 and cutting its prices, the local producer has found it difficult to sell its product despite growth in the construction sector.
"We recognise that while the regional market is large enough for everybody, as local company, and as Rwandan consumers, we all have a duty to contribute to the economy by consuming locally-produced goods and services in order to reduce Rwanda's import bill and build local businesses," said Busisiwe Legodi, the chief executive officer of Cimerwa. The company is also considering setting up depots across Rwanda to further cut its prices.
UltraTech purchase of Jaiprakash Associates cement plants likely to complete by June 2017 01 March 2016
India: UltraTech Cement's US$2.5bn proposed acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates' cement plants is expected to be completed by June 2017, according to UltraTech Cement.
"We have to ink definitive agreements and get permission from the High Courts. This will take time. The firm expects the agreement to be finalised in the next 12 - 15 months. Expect it to consummate by June 2017," said UltraTech Cement Chief Financial Officer Atul Daga.
Daga added that UltraTech is also looking at alternative routes in case proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act do not happen. In February 2016 the government took views from public, states and industry on amending the MMDR Act to include provisions allowing transfer of captive mines granted through procedures other than auction.
The transfer of captive mining leases, granted other than through auction, would allow banks and financial institutions to liquidate assets where a company or its captive mining lease is mortgaged. The move will allow mergers and acquisitions in the Indian domestic market, especially in the cement sector, in which several deals are currently on hold.
UltraTech Cement signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy Jaiprakash Associates’ cement plants in late February 2016. Altogether, the cement plants have a total cement production capacity of 22.4Mt/yr.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency defers approval for tyre-derived fuel plant at Bestway Cement 29 February 2016
Pakistan: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deferred the approval for setting up a tyre-derived fuel (TDF) plant at the Bestway Cement plant in Farooqia. The decision has been left by the EPA to consent from the local community, according to local press.
EPA Director General Dr Bashir Khan said at a public meeting that unless local residents were satisfied, Bestway Cement would not be issued a no-objection certificate. Residents have cited dust, smoke, noise and water pollution as reasons to object against the proposed plant. Qamar Hayat, a local activist, said that locals would allow the EPA to approve the TDF plant when they were guaranteed pollution would be monitored and that health hazards and property losses would be checked.
Lehigh Southwest Cement Company orders cement mill upgrade from FLSmidth for Tehachapi plant 29 February 2016
US: The Lehigh Southwest Cement Company has ordered a cement mill upgrade from FLSmdith for its Tehachapi cement plant in California. The upgrade is planned to increase cement-grinding capacity at the plant by 23% by installing and using the hydraulic roller press for pre-grinding.
The scope of contract for the engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) project including engineering, a new clinker bin, heavy duty roller press HRP-C 1.25 with its auxiliaries, weigh feeder, set of belt conveyors, nuisance filters, bucket elevators and new electrical room for this circuit. The project will also use the new FLSmidth Tribomax wear surface. H&M Construction will provide the civil/structural engineering and construction portion of the work, working for FLSmidth. This will be the first roller press supplied in North America for FLSmidth in the last two decades.
"Our customers focus on productivity. They want high utilisation rates and minimum downtime. Wear parts are one of the key components when it comes to reducing overall maintenance cost and wear solutions like Tribomax reduce the total cost of ownership of the equipment considerably," said FLSmidth Executive Vice President for the Cement Division, Per Mejnert Kristensen.
Deliveries for the project will begin in the third quarter of 2016 and the roller press is expected to be in operation by April 2017.
Emami Cement to build US$70m cement grinding plant 29 February 2016
India: Emami Cement plan to build a 2Mt/yr cement grinding plant costing US$70m for commissioning by the end of 2016. The foundation stone for the plant in Panagarh, West Bengal was laid by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Panagarh on 26 February 2016.
"The 2Mt/yr capacity unit is to be located at the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Panagarh Industrial Park in Burdwan district of West Bengal at an investment of US$70m," Emami Cement said in a statement.
Emami Group is currently also setting up a 4Mt/yr integrated cement plant at a cost of US$439m at Risda, Chhattisgarh. The project is expected to become operational soon. Raw material will be sourced from the company's captive limestone mines in Chhattisgarh. Emami is also considering building cement plants in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.