Global Cement News

Ecuador: Peru's UNACEM plans to invest US$58m in Condorcocha, Junin and Atocongo, San Juan de Miraflores in 2015, following US545m of investments in 2014. The sum will primarily be allocated to the acquisition of Lafarge's cement plant in Ecuador.

A total of US$374m will be invested in the Atocongo and Condorcocha plants between 2014 and 2018, with a focus on the cement mill, the development of the Carpapata III hydroelectricity project and the construction of bagging facilities in Condorcocha. UNACEM will invest US$939m over the next five years, while it anticipates sales of US$190m in 2014. The company expects its revenues to exceed US$200m form 2016 and projects a turnover of US$256m in 2020.

Pakistan: Kohat Cement Company Limited posted profits of US$30.9m for the year that ended on 30 June 2014, up by 20% year-on-year against US$25.8m. Cement sales increased to US$125m compared to US$111m in the same period of the previous year. Other income increased to US$2.60m from US$354,248 during the prior year.

Poland: Poland's year-to-date cement production increased by 11.9% year-on-year to 10.2Mt, while sales in the same period rose by 10.7% to 10.3Mt. In August 2014 cement production declined by 4.5% year-on-year to 1.51Mt, while sales fell by 9.7% year-on-year to 1.46Mt, according to Poland's Cement Producer Association.

US: Arcadis, a natural and built asset design and consultancy firm, has announced that it will oversee the construction on a multi-million dollar modernisation project set to transform Lafarge North America's Ravena cement plant in New York State into one of the most advanced dry-kiln facilities in the country.
Arcadis will oversee the replacement of the existing 50-year old kiln, supporting Lafarge's commitment to quickly implement industry-leading mercury emissions caps. The improvements will further reduce SO₂ and mercury emissions by an additional 20% over the next three years.

Slated for completion in 2016, the construction will create hundreds of jobs and retain over 100 current positions. Arcadis will coordinate all aspects of construction, including locating and purchasing materials, oversight of up to eight contracting companies, overall schedule coordination, management of materials and security of the site.

India: Sagar Cements has completed the sale of its 47% stake in its joint venture company, Vicat Sagar Cement. Sagar had earlier obtained approval from the shareholders through postal ballot for the sale. Sagar and Vicat entered into the joint venture in June 2008 with the objective of setting up a 5.5Mt/yr cement plant in Gulbarga, Karnataka. The first phase of the plant, which was to reach a production capacity of 2.75Mt/yr, was completed in December 2012. Production commenced in January 2013.