Global Cement News

Vietnam: Vicem Hoang Mai plans to build a 3Mt/yr cement plant in Nghe An province with an investment of US$286m. The unit will be built in the province’s Hoang Mai 2 Industrial Zone, according to the Vietnam Economic News newspaper. The project was approved in principle by the Provincial People's Committee in May 2019. It is part of the country’s cement industry development plan in 2030.

Ethiopia: A new bag-packing unit at Dangote Cement Ethiopia’s Mugher plant in Oromia is unable to start operation due to a lack of raw materials. The US$20m polypropylene bag plant was completed in April 2018 but it is restricted by government controls on foreign currency that are limiting its import of input materials, according to the Reporter newspaper. The unit can produce up to 120 million bags per year.

The cement producer has also suspended plans to build a second 2.5Mt/yr production line at the plant. An agreement was signed with China’s Sinoma International for the project but it has since been abandoned due to a shortage of foreign currency, a lack of electrical power and general security issues. Deep Kamara, the country manager of Dangote Cement Ethiopia, was killed in an gun attack in mid-2018. No one has been arrested in relation to the murder.

Ivory Coast: LafargeHolcim Ivory Coast has launched online sales of its products on the Jumia e-commerce platform. The online store is aimed at individual and small business customers, according to the Agence Ivoirienne de Presse. The project is starting in a pilot phase in Abidjan and Bingerville. Deliveries of orders made online are coordinated with the company’s Binastore network around the country.

India: Dalmia Cement and South Eastern Railways have inaugurated a freight train. The ceremony marked the start of an agreement whereby the cement producer will use its own locomotives with branded rakes of goods wagons, according to the Pioneer newspaper. The deal covers five such freight trains.Image

Argentina: Loma Negra has signed an agreement with the Asociación Obrera Minera Argentina (AOMA) union and the government to keep the Barker cement plant open. The deal follows three months of negotiations, according to La Nacion newspaper. The cement producer wanted to reduce the number of shifts at the grinding plant. It previously said it had started to close the plant in early-June 2019. The plant will continue to operate with 160 staff working a reduced workload amongst other concessions.