Nigeria/Botswana: Nigeria-based producer Dangote Cement has announced plans to expand into Botswana with a new plant, which would increase its presence on the continent to 12 countries. The plan was disclosed by Emmanuel Ikazoboh, newly appointed chair of Dangote Cement, during a presentation at the Nigerian Exchange Group.

“We are fully aware of the challenges in South Africa, which is why we’re opening a plant in Botswana, geographically close to the market,” Ikazoboh said. “South Africa currently imports cement, and while we have urged the government to curb imports, progress has been slow.”

According to the company, the Botswana blending plant will help boost production and improve profitability, with Dangote Cement targeting 66.4Mt/yr across all of its operations by 2030, a 28% increase from its current capacity of 52Mt/yr.

Canada: WorkSafeBC (WSBC) has fined Lafarge Canada’s Richmond cement plant in British Colombia more than US$488,000 following the death of a worker at the site on 19 November 2020. The work safety body found that a large fan at the site had failed, causing debris to strike the employee who sustained fatal injuries.

During the investigation, WSBC found the fan's impeller had been repaired and refurbished around five months before the accident, but that “The firm failed to ensure the installation, inspection, testing, and repair of its equipment was done as specified by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.”
It added that Lafarge Canada, part of Holcim, had also failed to make sure that a qualified person had checked that the equipment was safe before operation resumed. Richmond Royal Canadian Mounted Police worked with WorkSafeBC on the investigation but determined that there had been no criminality involved.

Bangladesh: Crown Cement has approved the purchase of 1.34 hectares of land at West Mukterpur in Munshiganj at a cost of US$1.1m, according to a company disclosure. The acquisition is reportedly part of the company’s ongoing expansion strategy. Crown Cement’s total production capacity currently stands at 5.7Mt/yr, with the new land purchase set to strengthen its manufacturing base.

Guatemala: Ultracem Guatemala has launched a new 45.2 grade of bagged cement, which it says is the strongest structural cement on the national market. It is designed for projects that demand maximum performance, safety, and technical support. The new product meets the highest international standards, including ASTM and COGUANOR 41095, and is the result of a strategic investment in technology and local development. The launch of the new product coincides with the first anniversary of the company’s production plant in Guatemala, which was inaugurated in 2024.