Global Cement News

Venezuela: Caribbean Cement Company, a subsidiary of the TCL Group, has entered into an agreement to supply 100,000t of clinker to Venezuela from December 2013 to April 2014. This arrangement was facilitated under the compensation mechanism of the Petrocaribe Agreement where the government of Jamaica could repay the loan to Venezuela with goods and services in lieu of cash.

This contract is the outcome of more than three years of negotiations between Caribbean Cement, the government of Jamaica and the government of Venezuela. What started as an initiative to export cement ended instead in an agreement to supply clinker.

Caribbean Cement will export 20,000t/month of clinker to Pertigalete, Venezuela. The company will continue negotiations to continue to supply clinker after April 2014. The company said in a statement "Caribbean Cement is pleased to be a trailblazer in setting a precedent for other goods and services to be negotiated under the compensation mechanism of the Petrocaribe."

US: ANH Refractories Company has named Stephen M Delo as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Gabriel Faimann, the company's former Interim CEO, who has left to pursue other career opportunities.

Delo most recently served as Director of Integrated Supply Chain for Honeywell International's Performance, Materials and Technologies business and has held senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility during his 34 year tenure with Honeywell. He began his career with Honeywell (formerly Allied Chemical) after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University, where he also later earned his Masters' degree in Business Administration.

"I am excited to be named Chief Executive Officer for ANH," said Delo. "I look forward to the opportunity to transform ANH's operations and drive long-term growth and sustainability. I am excited to be working with ANH employees to build upon our company's reputation and develop innovative ways to successfully meet the needs of our customers, as well as expand our markets served and products offered."

Belgium: The European Commission said on 6 January 2014 that it has rejected Berlin's request to refer to the German competition authority regarding a proposed takeover by Holcim of some of Cemex's European assets. Holcim intends to acquire part of Cemex's activities in cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates in western Germany and a small number of plants and sites in France and the Netherlands.

The German competition authority had asked to review the proposed deal itself, arguing that it threatened to significantly affect competition in the cement markets of northern and western Germany. However, the Commission, which acts as the competition authority in Europe, said that the deal would affect cement markets outside of Germany such as parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and the northeast of France. "The Commission concluded that the geographic scope of the affected cement markets is wider than national and that therefore the Commission cannot refer the assessment of the transaction to Germany."

The Commission announced in October 2013 that it was opening an in-depth investigation into the proposed takeover. It has until 31 March 2014 to make a final decision.

UK: Hope Construction Materials celebrated its first anniversary on 6 January 2014. The company has sold 2Mm³ of concrete, 1.3Mt of cement and 4Mt of aggregates in its first 12 months.

Hope was launched in January 2013 after the acquisition of 180 nationwide operational assets, including concrete plants, quarries, depots and the UK's biggest cement plant in Hope Valley, Derbyshire.

In 2013 the firm turned over almost Euro361m, which Amit Bhatia, Chairman of Hope Construction Materials, believes is testament to the dedication of the 800-strong workforce. He said, "It was always going to take time to stablise the business and start to optimise the way we run things, particularly with the scope and size of the business, but we're pleased with our progress so far."

Hope has gained widespread recognition for its dynamic approach and has already released a range of performance products that provide solutions to help to improve speed and efficiency in construction. The company is also about to launch a 'new way of working' that will improve customer service, although it is not sharing further detail at the moment.

"We plan to push on from our solid foundations and continue to build on our standing as the country's leading independent in the sector," said Bhatia.

India: HeidelbergCement India has completed the sale and transfer of its cement grinding facility situated at Raigad, Maharashtra to JSW Steel, in accordance with the Business Transfer Agreement executed between the company and JSW Steel on 5 October 2013. The sale and transfer took effect from 3 January 2014.