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Canada: Following a mediation session, McInnis Cement, the Centre québécois du droit de l'environnement (CQDE), the Conseil régional de l'environnement Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (CREGIM) and Nature Québec have agreed to the creation of an Environmental Committee to monitor McInnis Cement's plant in Gaspé, Quebec. The first meeting will be held as soon as possible. The mediation also led to specific commitments regarding greenhouse gases (GHG), emissions and impacts on marine mammals and aquatic fauna.
The mediation process resulted from the agreement with McInnis when the CQDE withdrew from the proceedings filed in August 2014 against the Environment Minister, in which McInnis Cement was a party. The role of the committee is to monitor environmental matters and issue recommendations. In addition to monitoring GHG emissions and emissions listed in the NESHAP 2015 US standards and monitoring the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) protocol on impacts on marine mammals and aquatic fauna, the committee will also address impacts on the physical environment, vegetation and wetlands, natural habitats and biodiversity, landscape, as well as any other environmental issue agreed to by the committee.
The committee will meet at least four times a year and report on its activities to the plant's Citizen Liaison Committee. An independent facilitator will ensure the efficient functioning of the committee. The parties appointed Richard Loiselle, a former director of the École des pêches et de l'aquaculture du Québec as facilitator. In the event of a disagreement, the Honourable Jacques Blanchard was appointed as an independent mediator.
The Environmental Committee will be comprised of eight members; two citizens from the plant's impact zone (one of which is a member of the cement plant's Citizen Liaison Committee), a representative of the CREGIM, a representative of Nature Québec, a representative of the Centre d'initiation, de recherche et d'aide au développement durable (CIRADD), a representative of the ZIP Baie-des-Chaleurs committee, a representative of the Conseil de l'eau Gaspésie-Sud and a representative of McInnis Cement. A professional from the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MSDEFCC) will also be invited to attend meetings.
Following the mediation process, McInnis Cement reiterated its commitment to use biomass to substitute a significant portion of its fuel requirements. It committed US$470,957 over the next three years towards feasibility or technical studies and projects to reduce GHG. McInnis Cement also confirmed its commitment to use selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) technology to reduce emissions from the plant and comply with NESHAP standards. As for the impacts on aquatic fauna, the committee will follow-up on the commitments agreed to in the protocol signed with DFO.
Europe: Two major Holcim shareholders remain displeased with the revised deal terms that were designed to placate them, according to Reuters.
Russian businessman Filaret Galchev, who owns a 10.8% in Holcim via Eurocement Holding AG, has rejected the new terms and is seeking further improvement to the exchange ratio, according to a Eurocement source. Additionally, Harris Associates, which owns 3.19% of Holcim, has said that it will not back the LafargeHolcim merger until it knows who will replace Lafont as head of the new company.
"Before we decide on the transaction, we first want to know who will be put forward for this post," said David Herro, chief investment officer for international equities at Harris, in an interview with Swiss newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft.
Koshal Cement abandons mini grinding plant in Odisha 31 March 2015
India: Koshal Cement has abandoned a 45,000t/yr mini grinding plant in Nagaon, Bargarh, Odisha. The plant was intended to produce 50% Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) and 50% Portland slag cement (PSC) using a ball mill.
Penna Cement plans grinding plant in Maharashtra 31 March 2015
India: Penna Cement Industries plans to set up a 700,000t/yr capacity grinding plant in Daund, Pune, Maharashtra. The plant will be set up on 93,077m2 of land and is estimated to cost US$31.9m. Gannon Dunkerley Co will be the contractor and Walchandnagar Industries will be machinery supplier.
Dalmia Cement starts trial production in Karnataka plant 31 March 2015
India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has commenced trial production at its 2.5Mt/yr greenfield cement plant in Karnataka. When commissioned, the plant will take the group's capacity to 24Mt/yr. "Dalmia Cement, a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Ltd, has commenced trial production at its new cement plant in Belgaum, Karnataka on 23 March 2015," said Dalmia Cement in a statement.