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Italy: Italcementi has reported a profit of Euro3.8m in the first half of 2015 compared to a loss of Euro79m in the same period of 2014. Its revenue rose by 6% to Euro2.17bn, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 5% to Euro324m. The company expects a slight improvement in operating results in the entirety of 2015.
US: In November 2015 Fenner Drives will launch PowerTwist Wedge Belts, a long-lasting upgrade to rubber wedge belts.
As the only twist-lock belt available in a wedge profile, PowerTwist Wedge Belts are engineered to combine the performance of a rubber wedge belt with the added-value design of link belting. PowerTwist Wedge Belts will be available in SPA and SPB profiles. The link design of PowerTwist allows for simple inventory management with easy, fast installation even on captive or fixed center drives. With a high resistance to abrasion and shock loads, PowerTwist is constructed to withstand extreme temperatures and is unaffected by oil, grease, water and common industrial solvents. PowerTwist Link Belting is the proven choice for a variety of industrial power transmission applications including cement, mining, aggregate, metal manufacturing, forestry and any wedge or V belt applications.
Local construction firms cry foul over new PPC plant 30 July 2015
Zimbabwe: PPC is under fire from local construction companies that have accused it of sidelining them in the construction of a new cement plant in Ruwa in favour of foreign companies, as reported by All Africa.
According to 'inside sources,' local companies submitted bids, but these were rejected due to a directive from the cement company's head office to sideline local companies and renegotiate a new contract with the main contractor, China's Sinoma International Engineering. The Chinese company was already undertaking construction works at the cement plant. Sources have said that since the beginning of construction, no projects have been awarded to local firms, which claim to have the same technical ability and expertise as the foreign companies.
"PPC is constructing a cement plant in Ruwa and is using only Chinese contractors to build the plant at the expense of local construction companies with the same capacity. Local companies submitted bids and none of them got a contract," said one unnamed source.
Another source said that a Chinese workforce drove the whole construction project being executed by Sinoma, which was against the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio- Economic Transformation Agenda's goal of creating jobs. "A number of local indigenous companies have tendered for various technical expertise, but none of them have been recognised. We believe that in order to empower local companies, there should be joint ventures between the foreign companies and locals to get a win-win scenario," said the source.
PPC managing director Njombo Lekula said that the company had engaged Sinoma on an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) arrangement. He said that the EPCM was a common form of contracting arrangement for very large projects within the infrastructure, mining, resources and energy industries. "We engaged the Chinese in an EPCM arrangement and the contractor is the one that knows how to execute the project. Right now, Sinoma employs 60 locals, which I think is a large number. Due to the arrangement it is obvious that the contractor will provide for all the materials required, but we told them that we need a quarter of local supply as well. The claims are baseless considering that we contracted also JR Goddard construction to do our road and sewer reticulation works for US$700,000. So to say we are sidelining locals is unfounded," said Lekula. He added that the company would continue to empower local companies and suppliers. For example, an indigenous company has been awarded a contract to do all of the rail infrastructure at the plant at a contract value of about US$3m.
PPC expects to complete the construction of its 1Mt/yr capacity cement plant in the first half of 2016 with an investment of about US$86m having been made towards the project so far. The project would cost a total of US$200m after completion, with the investment package set to aid the setting up of another plant in Mashonaland Central. PPC is also building a separate grinding facility in Mozambique's Tete Province.
Nigeria: The Ogun State Government has entered into partnership with Lafarge Africa on sustainable waste management towards the generation of renewable energy and youth employment, according to All Africa.
"This initiative will help clear our waste and make us live more healthily. With this sustainable waste management solution, we would generate much-needed energy and employment opportunities for our youths," said governor Ibikunle Amosun during a visit to the Saje dump site in Abeokuta. He added that there are plans to set up a dump site in each of the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun.
New Lafarge Africa CEO Peter Hoddinott expressed deep conviction that the combustible and recyclable energy would bring a new lease of life to the people, as well as improve the economy of the state.
Nepal: Nepal has endorsed a US$360m Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposal made by China's Hongshi Holdings to establish a cement plant in Nepal in partnership with Nepal's Shiva Cement. This is the largest FDI pledge yet from China, according to the government officials.
China's Hongshi Holdings and Nepal's Shiva Cement reached an agreement in March 2015 to set up a cement plant in Nepal. Officials at the IBN said this is the third-largest FDI in cement plants in Nepal. As per the agreement, Hongshi Holdings will invest 70% in the project, while the Shiva Cement will invest the remaining amount.
According to Nepal's Cement Manufacturers' Association, there are more than 40 (mainly mini) cement plants in the country and domestic products only account for 85% of domestic consumption.