Global Cement News

Czech Republic: Cemex Czech Republic resubmitted a revised environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its Prachovice quarry on 29 December 2023. Under the revised EIA, the quarry’s area will remain unchanged, but operations will expand to 1.7Mt/yr from 1.2Mt/yr. Authorities twice rejected previous EIAs for the mine.

Newton Media News has reported that the company says that its tests ‘clearly verified that the increased level of total organic carbon in air emissions was caused by one of the additives used in processing, and not by the content of organic substances in the mined raw material.’

Pakistan/UK: Power Cement successfully despatched its first shipment of cement to the UK in late December 2023. The company said that the move demonstrates its commitment to global expansion and positions it as a ‘formidable force’ in the international arena.

Export marketing director of Saifuddin Khan said “Entering the European market and exporting our cement to the UK is a testament to the high standards and excellence that Power Cement upholds. Power Cement can customise the packaging as per the requirements of the buyer, and we are excited about the opportunities this presents.” He added “We look forward to becoming a trusted partner in the UK’s construction sector and contributing to Pakistan’s economic progress through foreign exchange earnings.”

Armenia: The government has extended a temporary ban on imports of cement until the end of June 2024. The government says that the measure will help to re-establish competition between local cement producers and importers. NEWS.am has reported that Armenia produced 965,000t of cement during the first 10 months of 2023, up by 20% year-on-year. Meanwhile, in the first nine months of the year, cement imports grew by a factor of five, to 173,000t. Imports of clinker also rose, by 33% to 97,700t. The government attributed the growth of imports to rising cement demand and prices in Armenia during 2023.

UK: The World Cement Association (WCA) marked the achievement of an ‘historic’ global consensus for decarbonisation at the COP28 climate change conference in the UAE in December 2023 with a new call to global cement producers and suppliers. The association called on all participants in the industry to help promote developments in reduced-CO₂ cement production through enhanced connectivity and communication. It said that technologies like alternative raw materials and alternative fuels (AF), efficiency-enhancing process changes and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) are widely applied, but unequally, applied in the global cement industry.

Regarding the disparity between different markets, the WCA said “This imbalance underscores the critical need for more research and development funding in emerging markets, where there is real demand for this kind of support as a crucial enabler of progress.” It added “We will join hands with our members and stakeholders to advance the low-carbon and sustainable development of the industry and contribute to building a clean, safe and beautiful world.”

Kyrgyzstan: Central Asia Economic Outlook News has reported that the upcoming Chüy cement plant will have a capacity of 1.7Mt/yr and cost US$160m in total. The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund will contribute US$45m towards the costs of the project. When operational, the Chüy cement plant will use waste ash from the nearby Bishkek power plant in its cement production. Investors expect the facility to generate 650 new local jobs and to increase Chüy Region’s trade with neighbouring Russia.