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Chile: Chile-based utility company E-CL and Cementos Bío Bío's Antofagasta plant have signed a contract that is related to the reuse of fly ash for cement production.
After a long process of development and testing between the two companies, the ash that is captured by filters from the central generating units Thermal Andina (CTA) and Thermal Power Hornitos (CTH) in Mejillones, is used to replace natural pozzolan in Cementos Bío Bío's cement products.
Cementos Bío Bío expects to consume 70% of the daily production of fly ash from the CTA and CTH generating units. The project will bring a huge environmental benefit, since prior to this agreement, all the ash was deposited in landfills. The ash is a non-hazardous waste with similar properties to natural pozzolan, so its use in place of pozzolan means that the cement maintains its durability and strength.
Carlos Ferruz, manager of generation sites and E-CL, said that, "This initiative gives a new use for the ash, incorporating this non-hazardous waste as a raw material to a useful product such as cement. Loading, transport and unloading is performed without generating pollution." Ferruz added, "Usually the ash resulting from electricity generation is taken to a landfill, but with this innovation the ash acquires a new use and proves to be a real contribution to the environmental sustainability policies of both companies."
Thatta Cement suspends project in Sri Lanka 18 March 2014
Sri Lanka: Work on Thatta Cement's cement grinding, storing and bagging plant in Sri Lanka has come to a screeching halt.
The company informed investors on 14 March 2014 that the project was 'temporarily suspended' as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) had not executed the Land Lease Agreement (LLA), despite the fact that basic engineering of the project had been completed by Thatta Cement Company (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Thatta Cement Company.
The CFO and company secretary of Thatta Cement, Muhammad Taha Hamdani, complained that the SLPA had also signed an agreement with another business venture of car trans-shipment in close vicinity to the proposed cement project, "Without anticipating the expected operational conflict, which now appears to hinder setting up the proposed cement project within the layout originally planned by the SLPA."
The company official stated that further progress on the project would recommence as soon as the LLA is signed with the SLPA.
Malaysia: Cement Industries of Malaysia Bhd (CIMA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of UEM Group Bhd, is set to be the first cement manufacturer in the country to use tyres and biomass waste as an alternative source of fuel.
CIMA managing director Mohd Yusri Md Yusof said that the company has installed an alternative fuel combustion system from Japan's Taiheiyo Engineering Corporation, which will allow the company to use tyres and biomass waste such as palm kernel shell and empty fruit bunch (EFB) as an alternative source of fuel.
"The move makes CIMA the first cement manufacturer in the country with this technology," said Yusof. He added that using waste as alternative fuel for cement production ensures that waste materials are reused in a responsible manner instead of being disposed of in landfills.
"With this state-of-the-art technology in place, we can reduce energy costs through the utilisation of tyres and biomass up to a maximum of 30%, while at the same time playing an active role in reducing our carbon footprint," said Yusof.
Meanwhile, Plantation Industries and Commodities minister, Douglas Uggah Embas, said that the Malaysian government has identified biomass as one of the growth areas towards creating wealth from waste. "The National Biomass Strategy 2020 outlines the framework and the potential of the biomass in creating higher value-added economic activities. The National Biomass strategy envisages a potential contribution of Gross National Income of US$9.16bn by 2020," said Embas.
Cementir plans to increase white cement business 17 March 2014
Worldwide: Cementir Holding plans to close a deal within 12 months that could enhance its position in the white cement industry, according to Reuters.
Francesco Caltagirone, CEO of Cementir, said that the company is looking at potential sector acquisitions in the US, sub-Saharan Africa and the Far East. Cementir also plans to boost its waste management operations in Europe, beyond the markets in Turkey and the north of England where it is currently focused.
Europe: A European court has rejected an appeal by members of an alleged cement cartel, including Holcim Deutschland, HeidelbergCement, Schwenk Zement, Holcim, Buzzi Unicem, Italmobiliare, Portland Valderrivas and various subsidiaries of Cemex. The companies have argued that the European Commission (EC) had exceeded its powers when it opened an investigation in 2008.
The cement manufacturers brought seven appeals forward, arguing that the EC had not given a sufficient explanation for the suspected infringements before pushing them to respond to a long series of questions in too short a time limit. The judges considered that the EC had judicially provided the required 'minimum degree of clarity.'
On the other hand, the court partially agreed with Schwenk Zement. It judged that the time limit of two weeks that the companies were given to identify all of their contacts, including informal ones, was inadequate.