Brazil: France’s Vicat Group has completed its purchase of a 65% stake in Cimento Planalto (Ciplan). The transaction was structured through a reserved capital increase of Euro295m. Proceeds will be used to settle Ciplan's existing debt. Ciplan operates a 3.2Mt/yr integrated plant at Sobradinho in Bahia near to Brasilia. It also runs nine ready-mixed concrete plants and five aggregates quarries.

Mexico: Holcim Mexico plans to invest up to US$50m in 2019 as part of a project to improve plant efficiency and its Disensa distribution network. The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim said it wants to implement improvements at both its cement and ready-mix concrete plants, according to Reuters. It has a particular focus on reducing emissions. On the distribution side the building materials company said that its distribution business is a part of its long-term plan for Latin America.

Kenya: Devki Group has ordered a waste heat recovery (WHR) unit from China’s Sinoma Energy for its Athi River plant as part of a US$250m package. The deal also includes supplying a power plant for the company’s steel plant in Kilifi, according to the Daily Nation newspaper. Both projects will be completed by late 2020.

Sri Lanka: An unnamed Chinese cement producer plans to build a new cement plant at the Hambantota Export Processing Zone. Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Nalin Bandara said that this is the first time a Chinese cement company has entered the local market directly. Land allocation environment assessments for the project have been completed. The Chinese company will source 40% of raw material locally and this figure is intended to increase gradually. Production at the site is scheduled to start in May 2020.