Friday, December 17, 2010

FRANCIA: Lafarge lanza 'Aether', un clinker de baja emisión



El grupo Lafarge ha presentado Aether, un tipo de clínker (materia base del cemento) desarrollado para promover la conservación del medio ambiente a través de la reducción de emisiones de CO2. Aether ofrece propiedades técnicas muy similares a las del cemento Portland pero con un menor impacto ambiental. Esto ha sido posible gracias a su composición química que reduce la cantidad de piedra caliza necesaria para la fabricación de cemento, sustituyéndola por materias primas alternativas como yeso, arcilla y bauxita. Esto permite reducir un 25% las emisiones de CO2. Además, rebaja la temperatura del horno necesaria para conseguir la reacción química (1.300°C), permitiendo recortar en un 15% el consumo de energía.

Concebido por la compañía en colaboración con el Instituto de Materiales de Construcción de Polonia (MBM) y el Centro Británico de Investigación de la Construcción (BRE), este proyecto cuenta con la financiación del Programa de la Unión Europea 'LIFE+' destinado a apoyar proyectos medioambientales.

PARAGUAY: El suministro de la INC es mínimo porque ya no tiene clínker en Villeta



El stock de clínker en la fábrica de Villeta de la Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) es cero, hecho que le obliga a reducir a su mínima expresión sus suministros. La estatal atiende hoy menos del 50% de la demanda local.




El director de la fábrica de Villeta, Silvio Delgado, fue muy claro al decir que “todo lo que llega vuelve a salir”, haciendo referencia a que al descargar una barcaza de clínker en la planta se procede de inmediato a molerlo para la producción de cemento.

En la fábrica de esta ciudad se encuentra el molino principal de la INC, en tanto que en Vallemí, donde se encuentra el horno de clínker, hay un pequeño molino. En Concepción hay un punto de despacho y actualmente el depósito de Sajonia de la estatal también es utilizado para entregas. 

Los despachos en los frentes mencionados, del 1 al 14 de diciembre, se pueden observar en el cuadro de la derecha, que fue proveído por la cementera.

El día 15 de este mes entregaron 15.000 bolsas en los tres frentes, mientras que ayer tenían previsto una entrega similar, de acuerdo con los datos oficiales.

Estas mínimas cantidades resultan insignificantes si se tiene en cuenta que el mercado de la construcción está demandando hasta 80.000 bolsas de cemento por día.

Según los registros, el despacho promedio diario de la estatal rondaría las 35.323 bolsas de cemento, que es apenas el 44 por ciento de los requerimientos locales.

Pero el problema no es solamente la disminución en las entregas, sino también la provisión a personas que no tienen ninguna relación con el sector. De acuerdo con las denuncias de los distribuidores, políticos y amigos de las autoridades de la INC son los que acceden al cemento en detrimento de los “depositeros” formales.

Este suministro irregular es el causante del aumento de los precios, que actualmente oscilan entre 65.000 y 80000 guaraníes por bolsa. En el interior del país ese precio alcanza hasta 100.000 guaraníes por bolsa. El valor normal del material de construcción oscila entre 38.000 y 42.000 guaraníes.

Según los distribuidores los precios normales son impracticables porque ellos tampoco consiguen el material con los valores usuales. Mientras que el precio en puerta de INC es 35.000 guaraníes, los “depositeros” están consiguiendo a 60.000 guaraníes de los revendedores, ya que de la estatal no consiguen provisión desde hace semanas.

Escaso fueloíl

No solo escasea el clínker para la molienda, sino también hay un mínimo stock de fueloíl, necesario para el funcionamiento del horno de INC. Según técnicos de Vallemí, se tiene combustible para elaborar el insumo hasta el 26 de este mes y no está asegurada la posterior provisión, porque no hay novedades de un cargamento en camino.

CHINA: China Shuangji Obtains Operating License Extension for Dongfang Cement Plant


China Shuangji Cement, Ltd. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSGJ) ("China Shuangji" or the "Company"), a leading producer of high-quality Portland cement in Shandong and Hainan Provinces in the People's Republic of China (PRC), announced that its Dongfang cement plant on Hainan Island, which it previously announced was on a published list of more than 2,000 production lines across China that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) wanted to phase out due to concerns over outmoded production methods, has been granted a long-term extension of its operating license until after a new state of the art 2,000,000 MT cement plant is completed and fully operational.

"We have been working closely with both the Hainan government and PRC national authorities to resolve this matter so that it is mutually beneficial for all our stakeholders including our shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, and also the people and businesses of Hainan Province who depend on our high quality cement for their construction needs. Everyone is very pleased by this outcome," said Mr. Wenji Song, Chairman and President of China Shuangji Cement, Ltd. "Under this agreement, we will be able to keep our Dongfang production line open, which has a current annual capacity of 500,000 MT, until after we have constructed a new modern cement plant." Mr. Song added, "We are presently negotiating with several banks and commercial funders to secure interest only loans for the money needed to build this new plant and are confident that we will be able to secure the funds on commercially competitive terms."

Mr. Song continued, "Hainan Province is growing rapidly and has gained significant strength and prosperity with many new real estate projects and infrastructures projects being planned. Once completed, this new, state-of-the-art 2,000,000 MT cement facility in Dongfang, Hainan Province, will have an annual capacity 4 times greater than the capacity of the present plant. This will greatly assist us in our goal to become one of the top suppliers of high-grade bulk cement in China." 

Once this new plant is online and fully operational, China Shuangji's total annual production run rate will be roughly 4,500,000 tons which would roughly equate to $180 million in sales and about $15 million in profits.

ESPAÑA: El consumo de cemento caerá en 2011 al nivel más bajo de los últimos 40 años

El consumo de cemento en España se situará en 22 millones de toneladas en 2011, el nivel más bajo de los últimos 40 años y un 10% menos que en 2010, según informó este jueves la Asociación de Empresas de Fabricantes de Cemento (Oficemen).

El presidente de Oficemen, Joaquín Estrada señaló, en una rueda de prensa en la que presentó las previsiones de la patronal de este año y el siguiente, que a cierre de 2010 el consumo de cemento se situará en 24,5 millones de toneladas, lo que supondrá un descenso del 15% respecto al año pasado.

Asimismo, Oficemen señala que la producción de cemento ha disminuido un 55% desde los máximos alcanzados en 2007, en pleno "boom" inmobiliario.

En cuanto al consumo acumulado entre enero y noviembre de 2010, Estrada apuntó que se ha situado en 23,06 millones de toneladas, un 15,5% menos que en el mismo periodo del año anterior, y aseguró que las exportaciones crecieron un 31,85%, hasta 3,6 millones de toneladas.

Por su parte, las importaciones decrecieron un 30,6% hasta noviembre, aunque aún representan un 9% del consumo nacional de cemento.


Más pérdida de empleo

Por lo que respecta al empleo, Oficemen espera que el sector finalice el año con la pérdida de cerca de 6.000 puestos de trabajo directos, una disminución similar a la experimentada en 2009, y cree que el empleo podrá seguir cayendo en 2011.

Estrada achacó la caída del consumo de cemento a "la incertidumbre macroeconómica" y a la "falta de visibilidad" de las cementeras, al tiempo que subrayó que, para que el consumo pueda estabilizarse, sería necesario que a medio plazo se demandasen entre cerca de 30 y 40 millones de toneladas de cemento.

El presidente de la patronal cementera resaltó que, de dicha demanda, la edificación residencial representa cerca de un 25%, pero que el 50% deberá corresponder fundamentalmente a proyectos de obra civil.

Según el director general de Oficemen, Aniceto Zaragoza, el recorte en inversión en infraestructuras del Gobierno ha provocado una "caída" del 35% de la licitación de obras públicas, que ha hecho que las perspectivas de la patronal sean "muy pesimistas".

Añadió que las cementeras "no esperan ningún efecto a corto plazo" del Plan Extraordinario de Infraestructuras (PEI), con el que el Ministerio de Fomento pretende incentivar la obra civil a través de la colaboración público-privada.

Por otro lado, Estrada recalcó la necesidad de un nuevo marco energético que permita a las cementeras ser competitivas, ya que, a su juicio, la política energética en España es "muy errática", y existe una gran "incertidumbre" sobre la evolución a corto plazo del coste energético de la producción de cemento.

Además, pidió a la Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE) que se generen "ideas, alternativas y propuestas" para el sector, y señaló que, por el momento, Oficemen no tiene una opinión formada sobre su posible apoyo a uno de los tres candidatos a la presidencia de la patronal.

OMAN: Raysut a casualty in cement price war




A price war between Oman and the UAE is creating a rocky outlook for shares of Raysut Cement.

The Omani company plans to buy Pioneer Cement Industries, a UAE company, reportedly for about US$180 million, although a final price has yet to be announced.

But the move is "not fruitful" for Raysut, say analysts at Global Investment House (GIH) in Kuwait. GIH downgraded Raysut's stock to "reduce" with a target price of 1.088 Omani rials.

Raysut was down 0.9 per cent to 1.217 rials yesterday, and has fallen 3.5 per cent just in the past four days. In the aftermath of the UAE property crash of late 2008 and last year, contracts for building projects have drastically diminished, creating a surplus of materials such as cement.

UAE cement companies have been increasingly selling their product in Oman, said Hettish Karmani, a senior analyst for GIH.

This has driven prices down in Oman because UAE cement is cheaper.

For the first nine months of this year, cement prices in Oman averaged $70 a tonne compared with an average price of $82.70 a tonne in the same period last year.

Average profit margins for Omani cement companies in 2008 and last year were 40 per cent and 45.6 per cent, respectively, compared with the UAE's 27.5 per cent and 22 per cent.

The difference has been even starker this year. UAE profit margins stand at 11.6 per cent, whereas those of Oman have increased to 50.5 per cent.

Mr Karmani expects the combination of the Pioneer acquisition and lower UAE cement prices to cut into Raysut's total revenue and cause a 20 per cent decline in net income to 22.9m rials this year compared with 28.6m rials last year.

AFRICA: EGYPT: TITAN EYES READY-MIX TO CEMENT EGYPT EXPANSION

The Egyptian unit of Greek cement maker Titan (TTNr.AT) will consider bidding in tenders to build new factories but is also growing rapidly in ready-mix cement to keep expanding while keeping costs down, a Titan executive said.

REPUBLICA DOMINICANA: El consumo de cemento alcanza los 2.7MM toneladas

Casi al cierre del 2010 el consumo de cemento ha alcanzado las 2.7 millones de toneladas, de las cuales aproximadamente 260,000 fueron consumidas en el mes de noviembre.

El consumo de cemento, uno de los indicadores más relevantes para evaluar el nivel de actividad en la construcción, ha registrado una ligera mejoría en la demanda de alrededor de un 5.3%, en los once meses que han transcurrido del presente año al pasar de 2, 651,000 toneladas que se consumieron en igual período el año pasado (2009) a 2,790,000 toneladas en el 2010. 

Durante el primer semestre del año, la Asociación Dominicana de Productores de Cemento se mostraba optimista hacia el desempeño que podría tener la industria, sin embargo a pesar de que el primer semestre del año la demanda creció situándose en 11,900 toneladas diarias en promedio, a partir del mes de Junio hasta noviembre el consumo diario descendió a 10,600 toneladas creando una diferencia de hasta 10% menos demanda entre un semestre y otro.

El consumo de este material ha estado impulsado principalmente por las ventas a granel (77% versus 23% empacado) lo que sugiere un mayor crecimiento en la demanda generada por las grandes obras que se construyen.

AFRICA: ZIMBABWE: Chinese Owned Cement Giant Reopens

Gweru - The Chinese owned cement giant, Sino-Zimbabwe has reopened following its closure last year for failing to comply with an environmental order.

The company had been closed following an inspection by environmental inspectors after they had received several complaints from the local communities, mainly resettled farmers. The inspection found out that the amount of cement dust emissions from the factory chimneys into the atmosphere was higher than normal and was affecting crops.

An environmental officer for Midlands Province, Timothy Nyoka, said they were now satisfied with the steps taken by the company to rectify the problems.

Nyoka said the company had received a certificate of compliance and had also constructed a wall to contain dust emissions from the silos. The company was also required to submit quarterly environmental reports.

Sino-Zimbabwe is one of the largest cement manufacturing Company in Zimbabwe located in Lalapanzi in the outskirts of Gweru town.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

INDIA: India’s Shree Cement Buys 500,000 Tons of Power Coal, ICMW Says



Shree Cement Ltd. agreed to buy 500,000 metric tons of imported coal for delivery by April next year, India Coal Market Watch reported, without saying where it got the information.

The Kolkata, India-based cement maker paid a delivered price of $105 a ton for the imported coal used in power plants, the coal newsletter said. The company last month took delivery of a 147,000-ton cargo at Navlakhi port in western India.

India’s thermal-coal imports rose by about 16 percent to 44 million tons in the year ended March 2010, according to data from the coal ministry. The country faces a shortfall of 52 million tons in the year ending March 2011, according to a statement by Coal MinisterSriprakash Jaiswal.

AFRICA: NIGERIA: Cement price may crash as manufacturers target 30 million MT



Hope of a crash in cement price in the country has been raised following projections by indigenous manufacturers that output will soon hit about 30 million metric tonnes per annum.

The figure is above the current national average demand of 15.5 million metric tonnes per annum. The indigenous manufacturers are supplying about 11.5 million metric tonnes, with importation making up the number.

The projections of output rise are hinged on the success of the various expansion projects being undertaken by the manufacturers, with some of the projects scheduled for take-off towards the end of 2011 and early 2012.

A 50-kilogramme bag of cement currently sells for about N1,650 in the market, though the Federal Government had targeted that it should not be more than N1,000 per bag. About three years ago, the price had climbed to an all time high of about N2,000 per bag. 

The manufacturers are upbeat that the target of satisfying local demand and having excess for exportation will be achieved by 2012.

Corroborating this view, an official of Dangote Industries Plc, who refused to have his name in print because he was not authorised to give out the information yet, told our correspondent that the group planned to increase its production capacity from the current eight million metric tonnes to 20 million metric tonnes before the end of 2011.

He said that the group‘s Obajana Cement Plant was currently being expanded to add five million metric tonnes per annum to its initial five million metric tonnes production capacity.

The group is also speeding up the construction of its Greenfield cement plant at Ibese, Ogun State, which will yield another five million metric tonnes. Another of its subsidiary, Benue Cement Company Plc, is currently producing about five million metric tonnes per annum.

The group is the largest importer of the product, with import licences currently estimated at 80 per cent of the total national exports, according to figures provided by the company on Thursday.

BUA Cement Plc is said to be producing about three million metric tonnes of the product yearly, with plans to increase the figure to five million in the shortest possible time. 

In an electronic mail sent to our correspondent, the Country Manager, Lafarge Nigeria/Benin, Mr. Jean-Christophe Barbant, said the capacity of local cement manufacturers had increased in the last few years. 

He said, ”Next year will be more challenging because capacities are expanding. At Lafarge WAPCO for instance, we will inaugurate a new cement factory (Lakatabu) in the second quarter of next year. By 2011, the local manufacturers will be producing enough to meet local demand.”

currently producing five million metric tonnes per annum, Lafarge operates in Nigeria through its different subsidiaries, which include Lafarge WAPCO Cement Company Plc, Ashaka Cement Plc and Unicem. The group also imports about 0.5MMT through its subsidiary, Atlas Cement Company.

By 2011, Barbant said Lafarge would be contributing seven MMT to the national cement market, which would be half of the current national demand of 14 MMT per annum.

Dangote, the source said, had also forecast production figure of 46 MMT of cement per annum by 2015. This, he noted, would place it among the top eight in the world.

“Demand will be greatly supported by the need to refurbish infrastructure and supply the residential and commercial real estate sector. The consumption of cement per capita, which is put at 75kg, is set to increase,” the source said.





The world‘s highest consumers of cement per capita are Philippines, 300kg;


The figure is compared to an average of and‘ 1,180kg, Korea‘s 1100kg and Malaysia‘s 880kg, world‘s highest consumers of cement in that order.


A ban on the importation of cement had been in place since 2001 as part of the Federal Government‘s policy of promoting self-sufficiency in the production of the commodity and boosting local production.


Barbant said, ”We are fully in support of government‘s policy on backward integration, encouraging local manufacturing and restricting import of cement. This policy encourages the cement manufacturers to produce more and make cement available and affordable.


”It is in the long-term interest of the country to attract and maintain competitive industrial activities and to reduce expenses in foreign currencies from imports.”


He, however, gave a caveat that the availability of the product might not necessarily lead to price reduction, especially if other factors failed to support it.


The Lafarge boss added, ”The price of cement depends largely on its production costs. Availability of cheap sources of energy - fuel, natural gas and power - is a key factor to stabilise the price of cement overtime.” 


Out of the 36 states in Nigeria, 21 are said to have limestone, which constitutes 80 per cent of the input to cement manufacturing.


The Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had said recently at the annual dinner of the Lagos Business School‘s Breakfast Club, ”Given the abundance of the basic raw materials for cement in Nigeria, the Federal Government needs to consistently follow a set of policies deliberately designed to maximise the advantage of this endowment.”

IRAN: Iran's Northern Province Ups Exports by 79%

 The value of exports from Iran's Northern province of Mazandaran has witnessed a 79% increase during the last eight months compared with the same period last year, a provincial official announced on Monday.


Deputy Head of Mazandaran's Commerce Organization for Trade Development said that 614,000 tons of different food stuffs, cement, agricultural products, different types of mineral materials, construction materials and wooden products have been exported from his province to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan, UAE, France, Austria, Belarus and other countries since the beginning of the current Iranian year (started on March 21, 2010).

He said that the value of the exported goods amounted to $118 million, adding that exports from the province have witness a 217% increase in terms of volume and a 79% growth in terms of value.

The provincial official further noted that the volume and the value of goods imported by Mazandaran have decreased by 30% during the same period.

Meantime, Head of Mazandaran's Agricultural Jihad Organization Enayatollah Torang announced exports of agricultural products from Mazandaran have increased by 91% in terms of volume and 81% in terms of value since the beginning of the current Iranian year compared with the same period last year.

Last Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that the country has broad plans for constructing several major industrial complexes in Mazandaran within the next few months.

He further pointed out that Mazandaran province enjoys the required cultural, human and natural resources to become the most advanced province of the country and a role model of progress for the other provinces. 

EGYPT: Suez Cement to shut 14 production lines in Cairo



Egypt's Suez Cement (SUCE.CA) said on Tuesday it would shut down 14 production lines as part of an agreement with the government to relocate out of the capital to reduce pollution.


Suez Cement, Egypt's largest listed cement company and a unit of Italcementi (ITAI.MI), has agreed to shut 13 wet lines at its Helwan Cement HCCO.CA and Torah Cement (TORA.CA) subsidiaries and a 1.1 million tonne-per-year dry line for clinker at Torah.

In return, Suez will open a new line with an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes of clinker at its plant 30 kilometres east of Cairo, it said.

The new $400 million line will help Suez increase its cement production by 900,000 tonnes.

The firm said in March it planned to spend more than 3 billion Egyptian pounds ($517 million) to relocate 2.5 million tonnes of Torah's capacity to a new, energy-efficient site to adhere to environmental regulations

EGYPT: Following truckers' strike, Finance Ministry reverses move to raise cargo taxes



The Egyptian Finance Ministry has reversed an earlier decision to raise taxes on cargo transport after truck drivers staged a nationwide strike on Friday.

The decision was formally reversed following a meeting between Tax Authority President Ahmed Refaat and Drivers Association President Mostafa Nowhy on Sunday.

On Monday, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif denied that the Finance Ministry had intended to raise taxes on cargo transport. “Drivers did not have to stage these strikes since the whole thing was based on rumors,” he said.

Yet drivers have nevertheless maintained their strike for four consecutive days amid fears that clashes might erupt between strikers and security forces.

One truck--whose owner was not taking part in the action--was reportedly destroyed by strikers, who have also blocked roads to cement factories and quarries in the southern city of Beni Sueif.

CHINA: Chinese company eyes cement factory in Fiji



Fiji's interim foreign minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, has met a six-member delegation from China reportedly interested in opening a cement factory in Fiji.

The Fijivillage website reports the group from the Northern Heavy Industries Group Company Limited is on a fact-finding mission to assess the scope and detailed design of a proposed cement factory in Sigatoka.

Ratu Inoke says Fiji is the hub of the Pacific and their business can easily expand both in the domestic and regional markets given the current boom in the respective construction industries in most countries in the region.

CHINA: China Shuangji to build cement facility in Hainan



China Shuangji Cement, Ltd. ("China Shuangji" or the "Company"), a leading producer of high-quality Portland cement in Shandong and Hainan Provinces in the People's Republic of China (PRC), announced today that it has begun the permit process to build a new a new 2,000,000 MT cement plant on Hainan Island to replace its existing Dongfang production line.

China Shuangji's new state-of-the-art cement factory will have an annual production capacity that is 4 times greater than its existing Dongfang cement plant, which has a current annual capacity of 500,000 MT. In accordance with the beginning stage of the permit process, the Company has removed the vertical kiln at its existing Dongfang production line in order to be granted a permit to build a new plant and local government approval for new construction. The Hainan provincial government has already given their approval for the new plant in writing and the company is waiting for the approval of the local Dongfang City government, which it expects to receive in the near future.

"We are excited to have started the permit process to build a new, modern cement factory on Hainan Island to replace out existing Dongfang production line," said Mr. Wenji Song, Chairman and President of China Shuangji Cement, Ltd. "Though we have removed the vertical kiln from our existing Dongfang production line, we will still be able to purchase clinker nearby and continue to produce cement from this facility at the same production rate as before. Building a new Dongfang cement plant will allow us to keep up with the expected market growth in Hainan Province, which has been gaining significant economic strength, and comply with the higher emissions and environmental standards that China is now promoting."

China Shuangji already has one other existing cement plant on Hainan Island with a current annual capacity of 500,000 MT. The new Dongfang facility, which will be strategically located in close proximity to raw materials and water transportation, will complement the Company's cement producing activities in the region, optimize logistics, and provide greater cost efficiencies.

Mr. Song added, "China Shuangji is confident that it will be able to continue operating its existing plant at full capacity during this final permitting stage and until the proposed new cement plant is completed and fully operational." Mr Song continued, "China Shuangji Cement currently sells all of the cement it produces and increasing production capacity is management's number one priority. Hainan presently has cement shortages and imports some of its cement in barges from the mainland. As we continue to expand in Hainan province, we believe that there will be more than enough demand to absorb all of our expected new production capacity from our larger Dongfang production line."

CHINA: Wannianqing Cement Predicts 2010 Profit To Double



Jiangxi Wannianqing Cement predicts that it will record a 100-150 percent year-on-year increase in its net profit for 2010 to between 132 million yuan and 165 million yuan, reports China Securities Journal, citing a company filing.

Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to range from between 0.33 yuan and 0.42 yuan.

The company expects to generate a net profit of between 149 million yuan and 182 million yuan in the fourth quarter, an increase of between 229 percent and 302 percent year-on-year.

For the first three quarters, the company recorded a loss of 17.25 million yuan.

The company attributes the gains to an expansion of output, greater demand for cement and increased prices.

CHINA: FLSmidth wins cement order in China


FLSmidth has signed a contract with Chinese cement producer Conch to supply a 12,000 tonnes per day cement kiln for the Tongling plant in the Anhui province in eastern China.

With an annual production capacity in excess of 100 million tonnes cement, Conch is the largest cement producer in China. The Tongling plant's two existing kilns, each with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes per day, were delivered by FLSmidth in 2002-03. FLSmidth has not since supplied cement kilns to Chinese customers.

The new 12,000 tonnes per day cement kiln will have the maximum capacity available on the world market today, and the project is benefitting from the expertise and knowledge recently gained by FLSmidth from the installation of a similar capacity pyroprocessing line at Holcim Ste. Genevieve on the banks of the Mississippi, USA.

Parallel with the Conch contract, FLSmidth is embarking on a long-term strategy to strengthen its presence and competitive edge on the Chinese market.

The long-term goal is to become a competitive supplier in China of cement plants and selected types of minerals machinery and services. Based on a Chinese sales organisation and Chinese production facilities, FLSmidth will therefore launch equipment designed for the Chinese market.

FLSmidth has been permanently represented in China since establishing an office in Peking in 1912. Today it has a sales office in Beijing and an approximately 13,000 square metre manufacturing plant in Qingdao that produces both cement and minerals equipment. To handle the increasing production for international projects and the stronger focus on the local Chinese market, the Qingdao production facility will be expanded to double its present size in 2010. 

"We are determined to increase our competitiveness in China in terms of major cement plant components and selected types of minerals equipment and services, and the Conch order matches this ambition perfectly," Group CEO Jørgen Huno Rasmussen comments.

The Conch contract will contribute beneficially to FLSmidth's earnings until the kiln is commissioned by mid 2011.

BRASIL: ARCADIS wins large project management contract in Brazil

ARCADIS (EURONEXT: ARCAD), the international design, consulting, engineering and management services company, announced 2010-12-10 that its Brazilian subsidiary ARCADIS Logos has signed a US$ 37 million contract with Brazil’s largest cement company Votorantim Cimentos, which is ranked among the top 10 biggest cement producers in the world and the fifth largest private sector company in Brazil. The contract will have a duration of 26 months and is part of a large expansion program by Votorantim in Brazil. 

ARCADIS Logos will lead a consortium of companies and will take care of 70% of the contract itself. The group will provide project management services for the implementation of 4 complete cement plants in the states of Paraná, Mato Grosso, Goiás and Pará.

The project completion is foreseen by January 2013, when the plants will produce, altogether, 6.4 million ton/year. At the peak of the works, there will be a staff of about 120 ARCADIS Logos employees working on the four job sites.

The contract is part of a large expansion program that Votorantim launched in Brazil to increase the production capacity from 27 to 42 million tons of cement annually in 2013. The company is investing around US$ 3.0 billion during the period 2007-2013 to build new plants in order to meet the fast growing demand of cement in Brazil.

“The investment of the Votorantim Group clearly reflects the good prospects of the Brazilian economy. With this contract we are able to strengthen our relationship with a major Brazilian private corporation, showing the strong position of ARCADIS Logos in large industrial infrastructure projects in Brazil. It again underlines our focus on the long-term relationship with clients, since we have provided project management services for another company of Votorantim Group, in the area of Pulp & Paper, for ten uninterrupted years”, said Manoel Antonio A. da Silva, CEO of ARCADIS Logos.

About ARCADIS
ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, design, engineering and management services in infrastructure, water, environment and buildings. We enhance mobility, sustainability and quality of life by creating balance in the built and natural environment. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With 15,000 employees and EUR 1.8 billion in revenues, the company has an extensive international network supported by strong local market positions. ARCADIS supports UN-HABITAT with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. Please visit: www.arcadis.com

EL SALVADOR: Asamblea aumenta al 5% tributo a cementera

FMLN y PCN sumaron sus 45 votos para aprobar el gravamen. GANA –que dio iniciativa y firmó dictamen favorable– dejó a sus 16 diputados en libertad, pero nadie votó.





La Asamblea Legislativa elevó ayer del 2% al 5% la carga tributaria que la industria cementera paga al concejo de Metapán, en Santa Ana, por los precios de venta de bolsa de cemento producida y de cada tonelada de cemento no pulverizado, conocido como clinker, o de cualquier otro producto de la piedra caliza.

La nueva tasa impositiva provocará que el precio en el gravamen suba de $0.11 a $0.28. Ese es el monto que se pagará al concejo metapaneco por el precio de venta de bolsa de cemento producida y que actualmente es de $5.76.

Además, la industria cementera elevará del 2% al 5% el impuesto que se le aplica por el precio de venta de cada tonelada de cemento no pulverizado o de cualquier otro producto de piedra caliza.

La empresa dijo recientemente que en los últimos años no ha exportado clinker, por lo que no fue posible obtener su precio por tonelada para tasar el nuevo tributo que le será aplicado.

El incremento de los impuestos se dio en medio de un encendido debate parlamentario que advirtió sobre el alza en el precio del cemento, crisis en la industria de la construcción y hasta que el dinero serviría para financiamiento de campaña.

“Más pareciera que se necesita dinero para la campaña. ¿Para quién será? Aquellos que están detrás (de la iniciativa) deben decirlo”, acusó el legislador arenero y ex alcalde capitalino Mario Valiente.

“Va a impactar en la construcción, que es el sector más deprimido del país. El sector constructor tendrá una reducción de empleos y una mayor crisis”, advirtió el diputado independiente Orlando Arévalo, que buscó sin éxito detener el dictamen y el proyecto de decreto no sin antes cuestionar “¿por qué no 2.5%, por qué no 4% y por qué 5% de incremento (al tributo de la empresa)?”

El diputado del Partido de Conciliación Nacional(PCN) , Mario Ponce acusó a la empresa cementera y a los ex gobiernos municipales areneros de Metapán de no llevar el desarrollo.

“(La empresa) paga un impuesto miserable al municipio y a la población de Metapán”, acusó Ponce, quien calificó de “planteamientos sin tener suficiente base” los argumentos que dieron quienes adversaron el tributo.

Una vez terminada la discusión, tras más de una hora, los votos del FMLN y PCN avalaban la nueva carga tributaria que la industria cementera pagará en Metapán.

AFRICA: ALGERIA: Lafarge-Algérie réunit les professionnels de la construction et des TP : Cap sur les dernières technologies

Lafarge-Algérie a organisé les 13 et 14 décembre, à Alger, un séminaire ayant regroupé les professionnels des secteurs de la construction et des travaux publics. 

Un forum d’échanges et de débats dont l’objectif principal consistait à partager et diffuser connaissances, compétences et savoir-faire dans les domaines des matériaux et de la construction.

 Les participants au séminaire ont également pu s’enquérir des solutions innovantes censées contribuer au développement de la qualité générale des constructions en béton. La rencontre, la 7e du genre qui a réuni quelque 250 participants dont des experts nationaux et internationaux, des responsables d’universités, des chercheurs et professeurs, a abordé différents thèmes en rapport avec la réglementation et le contrôle de qualité, le développement technologique, l’industrialisation et la réalisation, l’expérimentation et la durabilité et enfin la recherche et l’innovation relatives au béton.

 Chercheurs et experts ont, d’autre part, mis en avant les résultats des dernières études et recherches portant sur l’amélioration des performances du béton, l’optimisation de ses applications et la simplification des conditions de sa mise en œuvre. Le groupe Lafarge-Algérie qui a fait de ce séminaire un lieu d’échanges entre les professionnels du secteur est aujourd’hui présent en Algérie en tant que leader dans diverses activités (ciment, granulats et béton et plâtre). Le groupe possède deux cimenteries (M’sila et Oggaz) avec une capacité totale de production de 7,5 millions de tonnes et gère en partenariat avec le GICA, la cimenterie de Meftah. Côté béton et granulats, Lafarge gère 13 sites de production de béton d’une capacité d’un million de m3. Le groupe y emploie 2 400 collaborateurs. Leader mondial des matériaux de construction, Lafarge est en pole position dans les domaines du ciment, granulats et béton et plâtre. Comptant 78 000 collaborateurs dans 78 pays, le groupe a réalisé en 2009 un chiffre d'affaires de 15,9 milliards d'euros. En 2010, pour la sixième année consécutive, Lafarge est répertorié dans la liste des 100 multinationales les plus engagées en matière de développement durable. Doté du premier centre de recherche au monde sur les matériaux de construction, le groupe place l'innovation parmi ses priorités.

UK: Lafarge goes green for flood solution.



Construction materials giant Lafarge has gone for the green option to help solve flooding problems on restored quarry land.

The company has installed a Poldaw Windpump at Finningley, a former sand and gravel excavation site in Nottinghamshire now returned to agricultural land.

The pump harnesses the power of the wind to empty a lake prone to flooding and expansion during excessively wet periods.

It means valuable arable land remains available for use by the landowning farmer.

Dave McCormack, site manager for Finningley and Rampton explained:
"When we had the major floods back in 2008 we realised the excavated lake was not draining as we expected.
It kept getting bigger and bigger without draining away which meant it was taking up farmland and backing up our drainage pipes. We needed a solution which would be effective but also practicable, low maintenance and low cost in the long term as eventually we will be handing responsibility for the land back to the farmer."

Traditional pumping systems are energy hungry, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of global and 32 per cent of UK electrical energy demand.

Concerned about excessive energy usage and the consequent carbon emissions Lafarge restoration manager, David Park investigated a more environmentally friendly option.

He said:
"The wind pump seemed the obvious choice. It's advantages were that as well as emitting no greenhouse gases it was extremely low maintenance and the running costs were minimal.Research showed the area had very few days without wind so it was clear the windpump would be in action almost continuously."

Now installed, following a lengthy planning process, the 11m high unit works on a float system, pumping water from the lake into new drainage dykes when the level is excessive and keeping water circulating when levels are acceptable.

As an added bonus work on the dykes has involved creating ledges to encourage more water vole activity.

David Park said:
"Overall it is a great sustainable solution which the farmer is really happy with and which does the job without impacting on the environment."

ITALIA: DEC forum airs Lafarge expansion plan

Roughly 50 people turned out for the DEC public information meeting at the RCS High School on the recently completed DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) filed by Lafarge for its plant modernization project.

Lafarge is seeking both a Title V Air permit and a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit for wastewater at the new plant.

DEC recently renewed the Lafarge air permit for its existing plant and the company is now focusing on moving forward with the modernization which requires its own set of permits.

On November 24, 2010, the DEC, the lead agency in the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) accepted the Lafarge DEIS document as “complete and adequate for public review.”


The public comment period also began on November 24 and extends until February 22, 2011.

DEC has scheduled a Legislative hearing on January 20 for all “persons, organizations, corporations, or government agencies which may be affected by the proposed project to submit oral or written comments.”

DEC will then determine whether “substantive or significant issues” were raised during the public comment period and legislative hearing warranting an Adjudicatory Hearing/Issues Conference.

If the DEC decides there are none, it will develop a response to comments for inclusion in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

They will also notify the public about approval of the permits, acceptance of the FEIS and issue the requested permits.

DEC and Lafarge staff spoke about the status and contents of the DEIS application.

Region 4 Permit Administrator William Clarke said the primary issues under consideration were replacing two wet cement kilns with one dry kiln and increasing production capacity from 1.7 million tons per clinker to 2.8 million tons.

DEC staff explained the permit process, the timeline of the past two years resulting in the Lafarge DEIS application and the FEIS process.

The FEIS will recommend one of three possible outcomes; issuing the permits, denying the permits or approving the permits with conditions.

Lafarge Environmental Manager John Reagan and a panel of five Lafarge staff spoke about the project in great detail.

“Our purpose is to modernize and expand the plant and make it more environmentally friendly and economically streamlined,” Reagan said.

He provided an overview of differences between the existing and proposed plants including which buildings would be torn down.

Scheduled for removal are the two existing slurry bins, the 350 foot stack and the two horizontal wet kilns which will be replaced by a vertical dry kiln roughly 530 feet high.

Other new features include a second crusher, a new raw mill, a new coal mill, scrubbers, SNCR equipment, Baghouse dust collectors and continuous emissions monitors.

Reagan also listed the main areas Lafarge examined in their DEIS application including air quality, land use zoning, solid waste, noise, traffic, natural resources, socioeconomic impact and energy resources.

“The new plant will be more energy efficient, using 42 percent less fuel per ton of product produced,” he said. “It will also produce 40 percent less kiln waste and eliminate the use of water resources in the cement making process.”

DEC staff spoke of the improved wastewater management as highly beneficial to the SPEDES application. 

“The new design will eliminate processed waste waters,” DEC’s Shane Mitchell said. “That simplifies the permit.”

While Reagan said greenhouse gases would rise because of the increased production the amount discharged would still be well within DEC and EPA regulations.

DEC Regional Air Pollution Control Engineer Don Spencer agreed with Reagan’s statement, saying that emissions would be less than 1 percent of the highest levels permitted.

Reagan also spoke about the project timeline, saying 2011-2014 would involve design, buying of equipment and the start of construction.

The first full year of production would be 2015.

“The new plant will allow the Ravena facility to remain globally competitive, improve the air quality and retain 180 jobs,” he said.

Spencer said the DEIS covers the old and new EPA regulations for the existing plant as well as the proposed plant.

Some of DEC’s findings thus far are the new plant will reduce filterable emissions from 195 tons in 2006 to 28 tons per year with an accompanying 75 percent reduction in condensable emissions.

Sulfur dioxide will decrease from 11,635 tons to 562 and nitrogen oxides will go from 5058 tons to 2107.

New EPA regulations for mercury reduce the total allowed from 95 pounds per year in 2013 to roughly 60 pounds by 2015.

The DEC recently limited mercury production to 176 pounds a year for the existing plant, roughly half of the 398 Lafarge reported in 2006.

There are no national carbon monoxide standards but EPA has issued recommendations in its BACT (Best attainable control technology) papers.

“Lafarge is proposing to set up many of the recommendations listed in those papers,” Spencer said.

Following the presentations, some in the audience asked questions.

Friends of Hudson Director Susan Falzon thanked the DEC for extending the usual thirty day comment period to ninety days.

“The Friends of Hudson are encouraged by what we can see in the DEIS,” she said. “We have pushed for a long time to clean up this plant. We are pleased Lafarge appears to be doing what they are required to do.”

She then inquired about how the DEC determined which agencies to involve and what relationship the DEC DEIS had with the parallel DOH (Department of Health) study.

Clarke said Falzon should direct those questions to the DOH but she pointed out that public health issues had been part of the original scoping document.

“Are there any formal channels for handling public health issue questions?"’ she asked.

Elyse Griffin of CASE also pointed out there was little in the DEIS about the effect of the new plant’s emissions on public health.

“There are only two pages devoted to public health in the entire 1000-page document,” she said.

But Spencer said the air dispersion standards discussed in the DEIS conform with state and national health standards and there ares far more than two pages of data in the document.

Elyse Kunz of CASE asked about fugitive dust provisions in the DEIS and whether Lafarge could enclose the new tower. She also asked about plans for the plant’s visual appearance.

In response to questions about the new power plant proposed for the modernized plant, Reagan said it was 100 percent based on waste heat and no new fuel would be required to run it. He also said it was for on-site use only.

At least one in the audience was solidly behind Lafarge’s proposal.

Ravena resident Mary Driscoll said “Lafarge has been a good neighbor. My children went to school here. I’m tired of hearing we are wallowing in cement dust. We can’t all be lawyers and teachers. Some of us have to be blue collar workers.”

Others questioned how Lafarge would dispose of contaminated equipment, who would conduct continuous monitoring and whether the company intended to use burning tires as a fuel source.

DEC and Lafarge countered all questions with reasonable explanations and continuously pointed out the company’s intent to comply with all regulations.

One DEC staffer pointed out if Lafarge didn’t comply with adequate data requirements the repercussions would be onerous.

In response to questions of why other heavy metals besides mercury such as lead and cadmium didn’t have individual limits the DEC said only mercury is volatile and can be emitted as a gas.

According to their data, only 8 percent of mercury enters the landfills while 92 percent is released in the air.

The DEC further pointed out that new EPA regulations require a decrease of 90 percent of all other heavy metals.

Falzon asked about clarity in conditions for start-up and shut-down emissions and was referred to specific sections in the DEIS.

She stressed that compliance and enforcement had to be more rigorously monitored.

“We think the DEC must ensure the safety and health of people in the community,” she said. “We are reviewing the DEIS with our engineers and our attorneys.”

Falzon also criticized the length and format of the DEIS document, calling it hard to read, poorly organized and too long.

Clarke responded: “It’s probably just as complicated for us as it is for you.”

ESPAÑA: Lafarge afronta con garantía la situación de crisis

La planta de la cementera Lafarge en Villaluenga de la Sagra, una de las diez mejores del grupo y que tiene 160 empleados directos e indirectos, considera que cuenta con el «personal adecuado» y «muy preparado» para afrontar las «incertidumbres» actuales y del futuro en un sector que en la zona centro ha bajado un 20 por ciento su producción por la crisis de manera global.
Así lo explicó ayer el nuevo director de la planta de Lafarge en Villaluenga, Oswaldo Pereda, que pese a la situación general está «convencido» de que la fábrica va a afrontar con garantías el futuro. «En vista de la incertidumbre actual no barajamos ninguna hipótesis, pero tenemos un equipo humano muy competente y muy preparado, identificado con la empresa y con sentido de pertenencia», afirmó Pereda, que llegó a la planta hace apenas medio año. La fábrica toledana, una de las más grandes de Europa, está considerada entre las diez mejores de un grupo que cuenta con 160 factorías en 78 países y aglutina a 78.000 empleados. relacionados con la actividad de la fábrica de Villaluenga de la Sagra se calcula que hay hasta 700 trabajadores.
La planta abrió en 1926 y entre sus trabajadores los hay que llevan ligados laboralmente a la cementera desde hace cuatro generaciones. Uno de los aspectos «especialmente satisfactorios» que Oswaldo Pereda destacó de 2010 fue la apuesta del grupo por el medio ambiente, pues desde 1990 la empresa ha disminuido un 20 por ciento su emisión de gases. Otro aspecto es la seguridad laboral y la formación de sus trabajadores, que son «el activo más importante».
Cemento producido en esta fábrica de Lafarge sse está empleando en obras como el nuevo Hospital de Toledo, el puente sobre el Tajo en Talavera, la autovía que unirá Torrijos y Toledo y la fábrica de Airbus en Illescas,

INDIA: Big cement cos lose market share

Fall in demand and aggressive capacity expansion by competitors to increase foot print pan India has, over the years, resulted in a dip in market share of cement majors like the Holcim Group and the Aditya Birla group companies.

According to The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) data, Swiss major Holcim Group, which has about 46% stake each in ACC and Ambuja Cements, witnessed its market share in FY2010 fall to 20.24% from 24.38% in FY2005.

Similarly, the AV Birla group, which, through group companies Grasim, UltraTech and Shree Digvijay Cement, commanded a market share of 20.49% in FY 2005, saw it fall to 18.39% in FY2010. Grasim in 2008 sold Shree Digvijay Cement. It later hived off its cement business into a separate subsidiary called Samruddhi Cement, which in September 2010 got merged into UltraTech Cement. On the other hand, a mid-size player like Shree Cement, which had 2.39% market share in FY 2005, is the sixth largest cement company with 4.69% market share in FY 2010. Similarly, Jaiprakash Associates has increased marketshare from 3.96% to 5.3%.

Experts believe small and mid tier companies are reaching beyond their traditional markets, posing a challenge to cement majors. ACC, the country’s second largest cement producer, whose volume market share witnessed an 8-year peak at 13.2% in FY2005, has seen a decline since then. Its share dropped at 11.8% in 2008. ACC in its AGM in April 2010 had also said that the company will be working on improving its market share as it grew 2.3% in 2009 against the industry growth of 10.3%.

An ACC spokesperson said, “We were constrained by lack of additional capacity as our projects had not come on stream. We have completed all the projects that were planned by us, bringing our capacity up to 27 million tonnes. We are taking steps to ramp up production at our new facilities, which will then give us additional availability,” he said. An Adtya Birla Group spokesperson said, “Last year, at this point in time, our market share was 18.05% and today it is 18.04%. Hence the loss in market share is insignificant. Moreover, this is true for the entire industry, due to continuing monsoons and weak demand."

Cement players like Dalmia Cement, Prisim, Binani and JK Lakshmi among others are moving from their tradition markets and investing heavily in expanding footprint in other regions.“The capacity expansion announced by the top four in percentage terms is less compared to others. Also, these players are not doing any acquisition currently, which has started impacting their market share,” said a Mumbai-based investment banker

AFRICA: NIGERIA: Nigerian Cement Demand to Increase 45%, Stanbic Says



Demand for cement in Nigeria, sub- Saharan Africa’s second-biggest economy and the continent’s most populous nation, is expected to rise 45 percent in 2011, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc said.

Output of the building material may increase 63 percent next year, while demand will surge to as much as 47.9 million metric tons a year by 2014, Lagos-based analysts including Tomi Ajai, Bunmi Njugo and Esili Eigbe wrote in an e-mailed report dated Oct. 27.

“Nigeria is one of the lowest cement-consuming countries in the world,” with 17.4 million tons consumed in 2009, representing 116 kilograms (256 pounds) per person compared with 325 kilograms each in the developed market and 550 kilograms in developing markets, they said.

Demand is being driven by a construction boom as the country, Africa’s top oil producer, embarks on the provision of houses, schools, roads and bridges for its 150 million people. Local demand for cement is expected to increase as government revenue climbs due to higher oil prices, Lagos-based Access Investments and Securities Ltd., a unit of Access Bank Plc, said in a research note in May.

Nigeria expects to attain self-sufficiency in the production of cement and become an exporter in 2013, when production is forecast to reach 22 million metric tons, compared with the government’s projection of domestic demand at 20 million metric tons, Commerce and Industry Minister Jubril Martins-Kuye said Sept. 30.

Capacity Expansion

Domestic producers such as Dangote Cement Plc, Africa’s biggest producer of the material, Lafarge SA’s local unit, Ashaka Cement Plc and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, are expanding their plant capacity to meet rising demand.

Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria Plc’s price estimate was raised to 48.5 naira, from 42.5 naira, while its recommendation was maintained at “hold,” Stanbic said.

Ashaka’s rating was reduced to “sell” from “buy,” with a price estimate of 25.3 naira, according to the report.

AFRICA: DANGOTE: Dangote Group to Build Cement Plant in Zambia, Nation Reports



Dangote Industries Ltd. signed an agreement with the Zambian government to build a cement plant in the southern African country, the Nation reported.

The plant, with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tons a year, will cost $400 million and take 27 months to build, the Lagos-based newspaper said, citing Chairman Aliko Dangote.

Dangote has cement factories in more than 10 African countries including Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Benin.