Global Cement News

Egypt: The Ministry of Local Development has announced the start of a six-month period in which it will issue no construction licences for private buildings in Greater Cairo, governorate capitals and major cities from 27 May 2020. Egypt Today has reported that the suspension also affects licences for building modifications and extensions.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has ordered that mega-infrastructure projects should continue, subject to additional protective measures against the COVID-19 outbreak. Al-Sisi postponed the inauguration ceremonies for the newly constructed New Administrative Capital and Grand Egyptian Museum.

India: HeidelbergCement has recorded a profit of US$8.77m in the three months to 31 March 2020, up by 8.9% year-on-year from US$8.06m over the corresponding period of the 2018 - 2019 fiscal year. Sales fell by 4.7% to US$67.5m from US$70.8m. HeidelbergCement India has attributed the profit to a decrease in operating expenditure of 8.6%, to US$50.7m from US$55.4m, according to Dion News Service.

Thailand: Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) planned sale of up to 30% of shares in its subsidiary SCG Packaging has received the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission. SCG is awaiting better market conditions for the sale, after it postponed the initial public offering (IPO) in mid-March 2020 following the coronavirus outbreak. The company said, “Once the overall situation becomes clearer and more conducive, SCG will proceed with its IPO and the listing of its shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.”

SCG said that it is selling the shares to raise funds for ‘international and domestic business expansion.’

Russia: Gornozavodskcement has announced that its Akkermann brand cement conforms to the standard for sulphate-resistant CEM-I cement. The Siberian Research Institute of the Cement Industry issued the certificate of conformity to the cement, which contains a ‘unique formulation’ of 100% ordinary Portland cement with special sulphate resistance.

Gornozavodskcement quality director Irina Ilyina said, “The production of this special cement in Perm Territory, where several large transport and industrial facilities are under construction, will significantly reduce transport and procurement costs for builders, as well as improving the quality and durability of products.”

Germany: Lhoist has taken advantage of the alkaline soils around its Istein, Baden-Württemberg quarry in producing a range of six white wines, two red wines and a rosé under its Kalkweingut label. The grapes are grown on reclaimed sections of the quarry and harvested between August and October. The company says that the limestone ‘has a high nutritional value and retains the warmth of the Sun,’ which, in conjunction with the warm climate of South Baden, gives the wines a ‘Mediterranean’ expression.