Global Cement News

India: Shree Cement has won its bid for a coal contract from South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) for 80,000t/yr. The cement producer will gain the supply from the New Kusmunda mine in Chhattisgarh for US$14/t. In May 2016 the company announced plans to build a 2.8Mt/yr clinker production line at its integrated cement plant in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The US$104m line, excluding land and other infrastructure costs, is set to be completed by March 2018.

Indonesia: Semen Indonesia’s cement sales volumes rose by 1.2% year-on-year to 12.4Mt in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Local sales rose by 1.6% to 12.2Mt but export volumes fell sharply by 20.1% to 0.19Mt. The decline in export sales was attributed to the Indarung cement plant in Padang province.

Cement consumption for the country as a whole rose by 3.1% to 29.5Mt for the first half of 2016, according to Indonesian Cement Association data. Increases in consumption were noted in most regions, with the exception of Kalimantan, where consumption fell by 16% to 2Mt. Notable increases in consumptions were recorded in Sulawesi, Maluku and West Papua. Overall exports of cement fell by 19.3% to 0.21Mt but clinker exports rose by 380% to 0.42Mt in the period.

Philippines: Cemex Philippines plans to build a US$300m cement plant with a production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr. The plant will be in operation in the second half of 2019, according to Reuters. Company president and chief executive Pedro Jose Palomino made the announcement amid the company’s initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Russia: Asia Cement intends to swap its US$86.5m debt to Vnesheconombank (VEB) for a 49% stake, the Kommersant newspaper has reported. VEB will also provide Asia Cement with a loan to help it refinance two loans, worth a total of US$259.6m. The source quoted by the newspaper said that the swap of the debt for equity was a technical transaction aimed at reducing the company's debt burden. Asia Cement operates a cement plant in the Penza region.

Canada: The Cement Association of Canada has become a member of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) as a strategic partner. The CPLC is a voluntary initiative that supports and encourages the implementation of carbon pricing around the world. It was initiated by the World Bank at the 2014 United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York City and officially launched in 2015 at COP21 in Paris.

“Well designed carbon pricing systems can drive innovation and prepare companies and communities to prosper in a competitive, low carbon and climate resilient economy,” said Michael McSweeney, President and CEO, Cement Association of Canada. “We have long advocated for carbon pricing in Canada and globally and are eager to continue our work with the federal and provincial governments to help them design and implement climate policies that support the goals of the Paris Agreement, protect and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic industry and promote alignment on carbon pricing among our trading partners.”