Slovenia: Swiss-based LafargeHolcim’s Slovenian subsidiary Lafarge Slovenia has submitted an application for an environmental permit for its 0.5Mt/yr Cementarna Trbovlje grinding plant. Business News Europe has reported that the company hopes to resume grinding, storage and dispatch at the facility, which went out of operation after losing its environmental permit in late 2014. “The plant will no longer produce raw materials itself, but source them from elsewhere, along with other cement additives,” said operations manager Čeprav Delo.

Uzbekistan: The multinational cement enterprise Surkhoncementinvest has revealed plans for a 1.1Mt integrated cement plant in the Surkhandarya region. The Uzbekistan National News Agency has reported that the first stage of the project, which will total US$144m, has already been completed, with technology from Austria, Germany, China and Russia installed. The majority of cement produced at the plant will be for export overseas.

Niger: Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Cement, has cleared plans for the construction of a 1.6Mt/yr integrated cement plant in Keita, Niger. The project, which includes the construction of a 100MW coal-fired power station, has a budget of US$275bn and is expected to take 26 months.

Mexico: Holcim Mexico has announced a forthcoming investment of US$40m in the construction of a 0.7Mt/yr grinding plant in the state of Yucátan. Jamie Hill Tinoco, general director of Holcim Mexico, said that the plant, which will receive clinker from Holcim Mexico’s Macuspana and Orizaba cement plants, signifies the company’s commitment to the state, enabling it to ‘optimise local solutions with greater benefits for customers and communities.’ The plant will be Holcim Mexico’s sole dedicated grinding unit in an integrated cement production apparatus totalling 11.8Mt/yr capacity.

Holcim has had a presence in Yucatán since 1992 through its Uman distribution centre.