Zimbabwe: Representatives from the Magunje community appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation, voicing concerns over Labenmon Investments Pvt’s noncompliance with legal procedures in establishing a cement production plant near Kemureza Dam and Magunje Growth Point. Led by Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations of Residents Trust (ZNOART), the community alleged that their views were ignored in the environmental impact assessment process for the plant, which will occupy 135 hectares. The Parliament Committee plans to visit the site soon to gather information from residents. The project is expected to employ over 1500 people and boost the local economy.

Thomas Chidzomba, representative for Hong Kong-based Labenmon Investments Pvt, said "Our project is clear and will follow all the country's laws. In addition, the plant is going to use state-of-the-art technology which ‘minimises or eradicates’ air pollution. We will also not pollute the Kemureza Dam as we will not draw water from it for our operations."

Spain: Molins announced a revenue of €1bn for the first nine months of 2024, down by 5% year-on-year, impacted by lower volumes and currency fluctuations. Particularly in Argentina, economic instability and currency devaluation affected performance. Net profit rose by 23% year-on-year to €153m, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled €274m, a decrease of 1% from the corresponding period in 2023. 

India: Kanodia Cement plans to launch an initial public offering to raise approximately US$95m, with a draft red herring prospectus expected to be filed with market regulator SEBI by the end of December 2024. The company currently has a production capacity of 5Mt/yr, with plants in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. CEO Gautam Kanodia said that the company has plans to expand its cement capacity to 10Mt/yr.

Portugal: Cimpor has presented its decarbonisation plan during a visit from the Portuguese Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, to its Alhandra cement plant. The plan involves a €360m investment across Cimpor’s Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé plants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Current projects at the Alhandra plant include a €110m investment in alternative fuels and two €35m investments in a replacement mill and new clinker cooler. The company estimates a CO₂ emissions reduction of 190,000t/yr and a 16GWh energy saving. Similar initiatives are underway at the Souselas plant, such as the conversion of a kiln to produce calcined clays, which could reportedly cut 70,000t/yr of CO₂.

Cevat Mert, CEO of Cimpor for Portugal and Cape Verde, said “We are committed to investing in Portugal for the environment, sustainability and technology, and our projects are going at full speed. I would like to emphasise that the government´s infrastructure investments, support and incentives, particularly for the environment and sustainability, need to gain further momentum, and we trust in the minister’s support on prioritising this matter. I am confident that together we will continue to build a cement sector that Portugal can be proud of.”