India: The government of the state of Odisha will invest US$1.25bn in infrastructure development, including construction of several industrial facilities. These will include a 1.0Mt/yr integrated plant owned by JSW Cement subsidiary Shiva Cement and a total of 4.0Mt/yr grinding capacity in new Shiva Cement and Shree Cement plants. The projects will source their cement from Odisha’s existing installed capacity of 7.3Mt/yr, consisting of 3.8Mt/yr integrated and 3.5Mt/yr grinding capacity at plants owned and operated by Dalmia Bharat’s OCC India, Toshali Cement, UltraTech Cement and Lafarge Holcim’s ACC Cement.
UAE imports 48,000t of cement from Iran’s Qeshm Free Trade Zone in six months
UAE: Figures from Iran’s Qeshm Free Trade Zone show a deficiency in domestic cement production in the UAE, as 48,000t of cement have been shipped to the country in the six months ending 21 September 2019. Cement from across the Gulf helps serve the consistently growing needs of the country’s construction industry.
Wikov and Premium Transmission sign partnership agreement
India: Czech Republic-based Wikov has announced the conclusion of an agreement with Premium Transmission with the aim of bringing its gearboxes to the Indian market. The agreement entails Premium Transmission assembling Wikov gearboxes to install in projects across the country.
Heliogen looks to heat cement pre-calciners straight from solar
US: California-based Heliogen has developed concentrated solar-thermal plants (CSPs) with the ability to focus sunlight to generate temperatures over 1000°C by micro-adjusting mirrors using computer technology. It has now engaged Parsons Corporation to build arrays of its CSPs for installation in cement pre-calciners. Requiring 900°C heat, these represent the largest part of the industry’s CO2 output. The technology will firstly reduce this by replacing fossil fuels with a clean heat source, which moreover entirely bypasses the electrical grid. Heliogen CEO Bill Gross says that the installations will make carbon capture and storage (CCS) of the remaining CO2 emissions from the conversion of limestone to lime easier by removing other pollutants. Heliogen is now targeting 1500°C from its CSPs, which would enable them to supersede cement fuels in kilns.
