Philippines: Cemex Philippines has ordered a MVR type mill for cement raw material grinding from Germany’s Gebr. Pfeiffer for a plant in Antipolo. The order also includes a MPS mill to grind coal. Gebr. Pfeiffer said that the order was received through a Chinese general contractor. No value for the order or timescale was disclosed.

Egypt: The government has reduced the price of natural gas for cement producers to US$5 per one million British thermal units (BTU). Previously the price was US$8MBtu, according to Mubasher. The government has reduced the price at a similar rate for other industrial users including iron, steel, aluminium, cooper, ceramic, and porcelain plants. It will now review the price of gas every six months.

Philippines: Phinma Corporation is spending around US$50m on a new cement plant at Bataan with a production capacity of 2Mt/yr. Philcement, a subsidiary of Phinma Corp. and Seasia Nectar Port Services (SNPS), have signed a deal to take over certain construction-in-progress assets, including the usage rights to pier facilities and land currently under lease by Philcement, for a terminal for US$15.5m, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper. Eduardo Sahagun, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) said that the company would need up to US$35m to complete the project. Once competed it will be possible to expand the unit to 4Mt/yr depending on market demand.

Malaysia: Lafarge Malaysia has been renamed as Malayan Cement. It follows the divestment of the cement producer from LafargeHolcim to YTL Cement in May 2019.