Turkmenistan: Iron ore reserves of between 70Mt and 75Mt of around 20% iron recently discovered in the Turkmenbeshi district of western Turkmenistan could replace other ingredients in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) clinker production in the region, resulting in savings of US$10m/yr for producers. Trend News has reported that the deposits, located near Turkmencement’s 1.3Mt/yr integrated Kelete plant and Polimeks’ 1.0Mt/yr integrated Jebel plant, could sustain production for a century.

US: The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) has honoured Cemex USA’s ‘exemplary use of environmental controls and systems’ at two quarries with its Environmental Excellence Gold Award. Its Center Hill quarry in Florida won a Community Relations Gold Award. Ten further aggregates operations won Silver or Bronze Awards in the Environmental Excellence or Community Relations categories. “We take pride in stewardship and serving as good neighbours in communities in which we operate and as examples others can emulate,” said Jaime Muguiro, Cemex USA president.

Uzbekistan: Construction has begun at Russia’s Eurocement’s 2.0Mt/yr integrated Ankhangarancement plant in the Tashkent region of a facility to house the limestone and clay used in cement production. When the installation is operational, the materials will be relayed from it to the plant’s four wet lines by a conveyor belt and 1400t/hr stacker, whence the mixture is conveyed by 600t/hr-capacity truck to one of the vertical roller mills.

Uganda: LafargeHolcim subsidiary Hima Cement has revealed its new dark-coloured Supaset, which it says provides a higher early strength (32.5R) with lower shrinkage than previous Supaset products, ‘promoting faster working, enhanced productivity and cost optimisation,’ according to Hima Cement marketing director Allan Ssemakula. “We shall see our customers enjoying the fast, more consistent, cost effective results synonymous with using Supaset,” he added.