India: The government of Kerala says that it will double the total cement production capacity in the state to 14.4Mt from 7.2Mt before 2024. The Times of India newspaper has reported that Industries Minister Pinarayi Rajeev told Keralans that the state government would build a grinding plant at Kinfra in Kannur’s Mattanur district and a blending plant at Kochi Port Trust. Commissioning of both projects is planned by the end of 2023. A second phase of the plan will see additional grinding plants established.

Nigeria: Sinoma International Engineering has announced the commissioning of the new 3Mt/yr production Line 3 at BUA Cement’s Sokoto cement plant at Kalambania in Sokoto state. The supplier, a subsidiary of China National Building Material (CNBM), says that work continues on the plant’s upcoming Line 4.

India: First Construction Council and the Indian Cement Review have named Dalmia Cement Bharat managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Mahendra Singhi as Person of the Year at the Cement Expo on Cementing India’s Future for the 2022 financial year. Singhi won the title for his exemplary contribution towards transformational changes in the Indian and global cement sectors, significantly facilitating the transition to a more circular economy. Singhi is the previous president of the Indian Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) and the previous chair of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM). He has achieved recognition as a Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 Business Leader and a World Bank Group Carbon Pricing Champion.

Singhi said “I am honoured to receive this award on behalf of people with whom I worked in the last 43 years in various companies who have shaped my clean and sustainable journey and I dedicate this award to them. I feel fortunate that I have been able to have visionary mentors and committed colleagues who could support my cemented journey.” He added “I am hopeful about the future as we transition towards newer business models that will drive us to remain profitable, ensure value creation and, at the same time, achieve environmental sustainability.”

India: The Odisha government has approved Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel’s plans to build a 18.8Mt/yr cement plant in connection to a new steel plant to be established at Mahakalpara in the state’s Kendrapara district. The project will have a total investment of around US$13.5bn, according to the Hindu newspaper. Once operational both the cement and steel plant will be the largest of their type in the country. The company plans to carry out the project in phases, for completion by the late 2020s.