Global Cement News

India: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has directed Calcom Cement to create 20 new full-time jobs for local people by January 2023. The Sentinel newspaper has recorded that the new positions must go to people from designated Project Affected Families (PAFs) with regard to the plant's Pipapukhuri cement plant in Assam. The designation covers any household which lost a source of a livelihood following the company's refusal to deliver a previously agreed rehabilitation package.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement has launched a promotional prize campaign worth a total US$76,700. The campaign consists of rewards of up to US$11,870, alongside other prizes for customers. The Sun newspaper has reported that the promotion will run until 31 October 2021.

Dangote Cement's Nigeria sales director Sanni Funmi said that the campaign is the producer's way of saying 'Thank You' to Nigerians.

India: UltraTech Cement has declined to pay US$126m for a 3Mt/yr cement plant in Uttar Pradesh which it acquired from Jaiprakash Associates in 2017. The Economic Times newspaper has reported that the acquisition was part of a US$2.05bn deal covering 21.2Mt/yr-worth of cement capacity across six cement plants and five grinding plants. With environmental clearances pending on the Uttar Pradesh plant, the companies had agreed to a delayed final payment for the US$126m asset, to be made on 30 June 2022. UltraTech Cement says that it is unwilling to pay for the plant ‘in the present circumstances,’ given that the required clearances are still lacking. The group is reportedly seeking a revaluation of the plant down to US$78.3m.

Pakistan: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) members despatched 52.9Mt of cement in the 2022 financial year, down by 7.9% year-on-year from 57.4Mt in the 2021 financial year. The News International newspaper has reported that exports fell by 44% year-on-year to 5.25Mt from 9.31Mt. In June 2022, despatches rose by 1% year-on-year to 5.26Mt from 5.21Mt. Exports declined by 48% to 284,000t from 543,000t. APCMA said that high costs caused the decline, which continues into the current 2023 financial year (which begun on 1 July 2022).

An association spokesperson said “The export of cement has declined massively during the ongoing financial year due to the high cost of production.”

India: Three new Indian concrete companies have separately secured agreements for the use of Finland-based Betolar’s Geoprime alkali-activated slag and fly ash additive. Reuters News has reported that the companies are Balaiji Cement Products, Shiv Tiles and SNEH Precast. Engineering company Godrej & Boyce has also signed a letter of intent with the supplier for pilot production of concrete blocks, paving slabs and other elements.

Betolar expects producers to achieve global concrete production volumes of 250,000t/yr of concrete containing Geoprime by 2023.