Philippines: DAL Engineering recently completed a cyclone modification project at CRH’s cement plant in Bulacan, covering full engineering scope from design through to on-site technical supervision, according to a post by the supplier on Linkedin. The work focused on upgrading the preheater top cyclone to improve pyro-process efficiency and operational stability. The company said that execution involved close coordination with the plant's operations team to minimise downtime and work within the constraints of the existing infrastructure.

On-site supervision covered the full installation sequence: dismantling of the existing cyclone; new unit installation; riser duct modifications; welding; geometric alignment; and structural adjustments as conditions required. DAL said that the upgraded system has since achieved stable operation.

South Korea: Hanil Cement will deploy drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) for inventory management and equipment inspections at its Danyang plant, according to Chosun Biz news. 10 employees have obtained piloting qualifications to operate the drones. After a trial run, the drones will be deployed in April 2026.

The company said that the industrial drones are equipped with AI software that can recognise spaces and convert them into 3D maps, allowing the drones to fly safely in narrow indoor areas and accurately measure inventory volumes stored in warehouses. Hanil Cement said that one of the main advantages of the drones is improved safety, as they can be deployed instead of workers to inspect dusty, confined spaces and high structures, reducing the risk of asphyxiation accidents and falls. The drones can also measure pipe thickness and assess corrosion or wear during inspections. They also reportedly save time and money by eliminating the need for external inventory measurement services and temporary scaffolding for equipment inspections. Inventory checks, previously conducted once per quarter, are now carried out monthly.

A spokesperson from Hanil Cement said "The drones introduced for worker safety are also helping with efficient plant operations. We plan to gradually expand the scope of operations by adding functions such as thermal imaging to the drones and sharing them among plants.”

India: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to increase cement production costs in India as rising imported fuel prices impact the sector, according to The Financial Express. Prices of imported petcoke and coal have already increased by 11% and 7% respectively since the start of the conflict, with further volatility expected. India relies heavily on imported petcoke, with around 50% coming from the US and about 30% from West Asian countries.

Producers are expected to increase the use of domestic fuels to offset higher import costs. Refiners are also increasingly focusing on gas production, which could limit the availability of refinery byproducts such as petcoke – cement companies are reportedly in conversation with refineries to tackle the issue.

Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement has secured US$14m in bank financing from Saudi National Bank to support its electrical grid connection project. The financing was obtained through Shariah-compliant facilities and will be repaid over a period of two years in annual instalments, including a grace period of six months.

Najran Cement announced that it had awarded a contract for the project to Sinoma International Engineering earlier in March 2026. The project is intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on liquid fuels for power generation at its Sultana plant under the Liquid Fuel Displacement programme.