Global Cement News

India: Udaipur Cement Works plans to raise US$114m through an issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs). India Infoline News Service has reported that the company will use the money it raises to fund Phase 1 of its on-going expansion project.

Germany: Master Builders Solutions has announced the addition of a new range of admixtures consisting of MasterEase and Master X-Seed to its admixtures portfolio. The company developed MasterEase and Master X-Seed to best enable European cement companies to produce cement of the EU’s new CEM II/C-M and CEM VI Portland-composite cements. Master Builders Solutions hopes that the new products will drive the construction industry’s transition to low-clinker cements and CO2-optimised concrete.

Parent company MBCC Group’s European president Christian Geierhaas said “Providing sustainable solutions is a key factor of Master Builders Solutions’ portfolio and overall strategy. Strong partnerships are essential and support and accelerate the development of significant innovations. We work with major players to continuously develop efficient admixtures to add value to our customers and achieve a long-term sustainable positive effect on the construction industry.” He added “In addition to the usual performance criteria, such as fluidity and compressive strength, our new solutions for our ready-mix customers are characterised by their outstanding robustness. Our admixtures provide an important differentiator by guaranteeing consistently high quality concrete, even upon variation of the cement type and fluctuation of the raw materials used to produce these new, more sustainable cements.”

Turkey: OYAK Cement says that it eliminated 200,000t of CO₂ emissions during 2021 through its use of US-based DataRobot’s AI software. The producer said that the technology enabled it to multiply its alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate by seven an reduce its mechanical failure prediction time by 75%. It added that the software contributed to a US$39m/yr drop in costs.

Japan: The CP Concrete Consortium has received US$80m in funding under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO)’s Green Innovation Funding Programme. The funding will support the consortium’s development of its Carbon Pool Concrete reduced-CO₂ concrete production technology until 2032. Hazama Ando Corporation leads the consortium along with 14 other members of the Japanese Ready-Mixed and Returned Concrete Solution Association.

Carbon Pool Concrete technology can be used in the construction of pavements, buildings and other civil engineering structures. Through comprehensive carbon life cycle evaluation, the consortium is attempting to robustly link the use of its technology with carbon market instruments and environmental and social governance infrastructure funding. Its aim is to redefine concrete as a carbon neutral material.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has reported a 59.2% decline in its consolidated net profit to US$9.7m for the three months to 31 December 2021. The company had posted a net profit of US$23.6m during the corresponding quarter of 2020. The company reported that its revenue for the quarter was almost unchanged year-on-year at US$363m. The company’s cement sales volumes fell to 5.7Mt during the quarter compared to 5.8Mt in a year earlier.

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Managing Director and chief executive officer (CEO) Mahendra Singhi said, “Margins during the quarter were impacted due to a significant inflation in the energy prices and market weakness in core regions of our operation. However, beginning in mid-December, things have started to look good. To mitigate the impact of external exigencies, we are working to further strengthen our operational efficiencies and explore avenues for cost rationalisation.”