Ghana: Residents of the McCarthy Hill district in Accra have launched a protest against China-based Empire Cement’s planned McCarthy Hill cement plant. The Daily Guide newspaper has reported that protestors allege that the proposed plant would contaminate water which flows through active salt mines. They have also complained about potential dust emissions from the site. So far the company has broken ground on the project and three silos are in place.
US may lack cement capacity for government’s proposed US$2.2tn infrastructure plan
US: The Boston Globe newspaper has reported that the single biggest threat to the US government’s planned industrial reinvigoration based around a US$2.2tn federal infrastructure spending plan is a shortage of resources. The newspaper named a lack of workers and cement mills as particular concerns. It reported that the National Association of Home Builders has called for tariffs to be cut for certain key building materials such as lumber and that more cement should be imported.
Spanish cement and clinker production’s CO2 emissions fall in 2020
Spain: The total CO2 emissions of cement and clinker production in Spain fell by 14% year-on-year in 2020. The El Economista newspaper has reported that a report by the Sustainability Observatory recorded that 10 Spanish companies were responsible for emitting 51Mt of CO2 in 2020 or 56% of the national total.
Vulcan to buy US Concrete for US$1.29bn
US: Aggregate producer Vulcan Materials Company has agreed to buy US Concrete for US$1.29bn.The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the second half of 2021, subject to US Concrete shareholder approval, regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions.
Tom Hill, Chairman and chief executive officer of Vulcan Materials Company, said, "US Concrete is an important Vulcan customer in a number of key areas, and this transaction is a logical and exciting step in our growth strategy as we further bolster our geographic footprint.”
US Concrete runs 27 aggregates operations serving California, Texas and the Northeast US. It shipped 12.6Mt of aggregates in 2020. Vulcan also said that the acquisition represented a ‘natural’ addition to Vulcan's business. The deal also adds US Concrete’s ready-mixed concrete operations to Vulcan's existing concrete business.
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