Brazil: ABG Mineração, which is majority owned by Spain-based La Union Cements, plant to invest US$296m in establishing a cement plant and limestone mine in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte. Portal N10 has reported the production capacity of the plant as 1Mt/yr. The company expects that it will generate 300 direct jobs and US$138m/yr in sales.

Paraguay: Cartes Group subsidiary Cementos Concepción says that construction of its San Lázaro, Concepción, cement plant is 70% complete and on track for a commissioning date in August 2022. The La Nación newspaper has reported that the total investment value of the project is US$200m. President José Ortiz said that two issues had been overcome in staying on schedule, namely the Covid-19 outbreak and low flow of the river on which the new plant will be situated, both of which presented logistical problems. Work also continues on the establishment of a dedicated power plant for the plant at Vallemí.

Saudi Arabia: Southern Province Cement Company plans to upgrade its Jizan cement plant in Abha with a new 10,000t/day clinker production line to replace the plant’s existing clinker lines. The producer plans to launch the project in mid-late 2021.

UK: Cemex UK, part of Mexico-based Cemex, has renewed its 100% renewable electricity supply contract with France-based Engie until mid-2024. The supply will cover nearly 200 of its UK sites including its integrated cement plant at Rugby and its grinding plant at Tilbury.

Cemex’s Europe regional head of carbon, legacy landfill and special projects Martin Hills said, “Cemex has a dedicated Climate Action Plan for its global operations which outlines the company’s vision to advance towards a carbon-neutral economy and to address society’s increasing demands more efficiently. The use of renewable electricity at our sites plays an important part in this and we are pleased to have renewed our partnership with Engie for a further three years.