Russia: Soyuzcement, the national cement manufacturing union, has forecast a 4% year-on-year fall in cement production in 2020. Greater declines are expected in the central and southern federal regions. It observed that only half of the country’s production capacity was used in 2020. However, the organisation has credited government subsidies for mortgages as staving off the worse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the first half of the year by stimulating construction.
Carmeuse partners with ENGIE and John Cockerill for lime plant carbon capture and utilisation project in Belgium
Belgium: Carmeuse has signed a joint development agreement with France-based energy transition specialist ENGIE and John Cockerill for a carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) project in Wallonia. It will concentrate CO2 from a new type of lime kiln and combine it with ‘green’ hydrogen to produce ‘e-methane.’ The hydrogen will be produced by a 75MW electrolyser plant powered by renewable electricity. The company said, “The produced e-methane will be suitable for injection into the national natural gas grid. This renewable e-methane can be used by industrial users or as an alternative fuel in the transport sector, thus allowing these sectors to decarbonise.”
Construction is due to begin in 2022 for commissioning of the installation in 2025. Its total investment cost is Euro150m. The partners have applied for funding from the EU Innovation Fund and Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) fund. The project’s estimated CO2 emissions reduction over 10 years is 900,000t
Chief executive officer (CEO) Rodolphe Collinet said, “We are delighted to join forces with John Cockerill and ENGIE for the development of this very exciting and strategic project. It is a major step forward in our ambition to become CO2-neutral by 2050. This project is a very concrete and important example of Carmeuse’s strong commitment and contribution to sustainable development.”
Central Board of Direct Taxes accuses Chettinad Group of US$95m tax evasion
India: The Ministry of Finance Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) says that its Income Tax department has detected US$95m-worth of tax evasion by Chettinad Cement and Anjani Portland Cement owner Chettinad Group. The Deccan Herald newspaper has reported that following raids on its offices the tax department found evidence of inflated expenditure, unaccounted receipts and complex financial arrangements including bogus liabilities in order to reduce capital gains. The investigation continues.
Duqm Cement Factory secures funding for Duqm grinding plant
Oman: Raysut Cement subsidiary Duqm Cement Factory has signed a deal with Ahlibank for a US$21m loan for the construction of its Duqm grinding plant in Al Wusta Governotate. The grinding plant will produce ordinary Portland cement (OPC), Portland limestone cement (PLC) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), according to the Times of Oman newspaper. Construction of the plant started in November 2020.
Raysut Cement chief executive officer (CEO) Joey Ghose said, “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Ahlibank for financing the Construction of Duqm Cement Factory’s new grinding plant in Duqm Industrial Estate. Through strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors, the bank has ensured the all-round development of Oman’s diverse sectors. The new cement plant will spur economic activities in around the Duqm Industrial Estate and thereby bring more and more businesses to the region.”
