Global Cement News

India: Operations of industrial units in rural areas are clear to resume as of 20 April 2020, subject to local permissions and social distancing rules. Dion News Service has reported that JK Lakshmi Cement has resumed operations at two grinding units in Gujarat, JK Cement has resumed reduced operations at its 3.0Mt/yr integrated Muddapur plant in Karnataka and UltraTech has resumed operations ‘at some of the company’s locations.’ Ambuja Cements, ACC, ICC and India Cements all announced plans to return to full capacity utilisation in phases.

As part of phase two of India’s coronavirus lockdown, public spaces remain closed and public transport is suspended until 3 May 2020.

Armenia: The government has included cement production under a list of permitted economic activities able to resume from 16 April 2020. Azbarez News has reported that the present lockdown is scheduled to continue until 15 May 2020. Cement and clinker imports from neighbouring Iran, historically the main source of construction cement for Armenia, have continued throughout the coronavirus crisis.

China: Shanshui Cement has said that it expects its first-quarter losses to rise year-on-year in 2020 due to coronavirus. ET Net News has reported that, though losses are normal in the quarter containing the winter shutdown, they are expected to have been greater than usual in 2020 due to decreased sales and delays to startup caused by the outbreak.

Russia: Italy-based Buzzi Unicem subsidiary SKL Cement has supplied 400t of cement to the site of an upcoming coronavirus hospital in Omsk, Omsk Oblast. SLK Cement CEO Andrei Immoreev said, “In a difficult time for the whole world, our company continues to work to provide cement for construction sites of regional and federal facilities,” according to AMF News.

On 16 April 2020 the government launched a raft of measures, including subsidies for construction companies to keep jobs open and paid, to help the sector to recover after the crisis. and Major infrastructure projects in all regions will continue.

Nigeria: BUA Cement has donated 350 bags of rice and 22,500 facemasks to people affected by the coronavirus outbreak in Okpella, Okpekpe and Ibie, Edo State and Elele, Rivers State. BUA Cement CEO Yusuf Binji said, “As a responsible organisation, we understand the plight of our host communities. We believe this donation will go a long way to ameliorate the negative effect of the lock¬down.”

As of 20 April 2020, Nigeria had 627 coronavirus cases – 21 fatal.