Australia/New Zealand: Belgium-based Etex has signed an agreement with building materials company BGC to acquire the latter’s gypsum and fibre cement businesses. The fibre cement business includes the Canning Vale fibre cement boards plant in Western Australia. BGC also operates nine warehouses across Australia and New Zealand. Etex says that the deal expands its activities in the ‘attractive’ local market, with significant growth opportunities. Finalisation is expected in early 2024.

Etex CEO Bernard Delvaux said “This deal is a strategic opportunity for Etex to complement our footprint in Australia and further increase the accessibility of our products and services for customers. This will both reinforce our gypsum wallboard offering and position us well in the growing fibre cement activities through a broad product range and good channel access.”

India: The Satna District Office of Collector (Mining) has fined Birla Corporation US$1m for its excess extraction of limestone between 2001 and 2007.

Birla Corporation said “The company did not take environment clearance due to the ambiguity in the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 1994, which was only clarified subsequently by the principles laid down in the common cause judgement of the Supreme Court dated 2 August 2017. However, the company had valid consent to operate the mines from State Pollution Control Board. The company remains committed to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. The company is reviewing the order and evaluating the next steps in this matter.”

India: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has granted Shiva Cement consent to operate its Sundergarh cement plant up to production volumes of 1.5Mt/yr, Reuters has reported. The producer commissioned the plant’s 1.36Mt/yr-capacity clinker line in June 2023. At that time, the plant had consent to operate with clinker production volumes of up to 660,000t/yr.

El Salvador: Holcim El Salvador says that its first electric cement truck will enter operation at its El Ronco cement plant later in 2023. Local press has reported that this will reduce the plant’s carbon footprint by 560t/yr. The El Ronco plant is the subject of an investment in renewable energy infrastructure to cover 21% of its electricity consumption. The company is also investing in circular economic practices with a view to achieving net zero CO₂ emissions.

Holcim El Salvador chief executive officer Rodrigo Gallardo said "We are building more with less, incorporating recycled materials into our production processes, giving them a second life in order to use only what is necessary and thus contribute to preserving our planet." He added “We are building progress for people and the planet, with the vision of making sustainable construction affordable for everyone. The future of construction in El Salvador is being transformed, and we are proud to be leading the way, as we have done for the past 74 years."