CHINA: Restriction on electricity use lifts domestic cement prices

From July to October, cement prices in nearly all regions of China have been soaring on declining output caused by local governments' restriction on electricity supply for energy-intensive industries.

To meet their energy-saving goals for 11th Five Years, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangxi and a dozen of other provinces adopted strictly measures to lower energy consumption. Energy-intensive industries like cement and steel become primary targets of electricity control orders.

Among all provinces, Zhejiang, a cut-throat battlefield for cement players, took the first step. The energy consumption per CNY10000 GDP for Zhejiang was planned to reduce by 3.2% in 2010, while it only lowered by 1% in the first half. Under these urgent energy-saving circumstances, local government asked all cement manufacturers to take two 15-day breaks in the third quarter.

Energy control measures in Zhejiang dragged local cement output immediately. According to China Cement Net, cement prices in Zhejiang saw five jumps in July-August period. At present, local cement prices are 20-30% higher than the second quarter. In July, cement prices in Zhejiang was about RMB250/t, but in October, only after 3 monthes, prices shot up more than 30% to RMB400/t.

Within no more than two months, following local governments' measures to meet energy saving targets, cement supply shortage speeded quickly from Zhejiang to Yangtze River Delta, the East, the South, and even inland China.

In neighboring Jiangsu province, cement output decline resulted from electricity supply control also lifted prices.

Mr. Xu Hongbin, general manager of Jiangsu Pangu Cement Company told the reporter that the government's ban on electricity supply for cement plants reduced the company's monthly output by as much as 40%.

Guangxi, another cement clinker manufacturing region, ordered 594 local cement, steel, electrolytic aluminum and zinc plants to consume 2.1 million kWh less electricity every month since September. This measure pushed regional cement prices up by 10% in the first month of the third quarter.

In Shandong, the biggest cement producing province, cement and clinker output declined for the same reason. A local retailer told the reporter from China Cement Net, the P.O. 32.5 cement price surged up by 60 yuan per ton in last 10 days as he could not get enough products to meet booming demands.

CHINA: Portugal's Cimpor opens another factory in China

Portugal-based cement group Cimentos de Portugal (Cimpor) opened its biggest cement factory Wednesday in China doubling its production capacity in the country, the group said in a stamen issued in Lisbon.

Cimpor Zaozhuang, which required investment of 100 million euros, has a cement production capacity of 2 million tons per year, the statement said.

The factory, the group's second in China after the one in Shandong, is located in Zaozhuang, an area rich in cola and limestone reserves, which is the raw material required for cement production, and is where many construction materials companies are located.

Cimpor entered the Chinese market in May, 2007, with the acquisition of 60 percent of Chinese company Shandong Liuyuan, and currently has two integrated cement production factories, in Shandong and Zaozhuang, a clinker factory in Liyang, and two clinker mills in Huaian and Suzhou.

The cement company in total has cement production capacity using its own clinker of 5.3 million tons per year.

The Cimpor group is present on four continents and in 12 countries, with an annual cement production capacity of 36 million tons.

AFRICA: Nigeria: Dangote Group bags Investor of the Year Award

Dangote Group has emerged the Investor of the Year. The company won the award in the Investor of the Year category at the Nigeria at 50 Investors’ Awards organised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), in Abuja. 

According to a statement by the company, Dangote beat Indorama, MTN Nigeria, Eleme Petrochemicals and Glo, to clinch the highly competitive award, which was used to recognise Nigeria’s corporate elite, successful entrepreneurs and outstanding Government functionaries for their contributions to the economic development of the country. 

In his remarks at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria has recorded sustained economic and democratic development over the last 10 years, adding that the nation has an abundance of significant opportunities to be explored for development. 

“The country has an abundance of investment opportunities and wishes to welcome a select audience to develop mutual benefit, assisting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the benefit of all Nigerians,” said Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, at the occasion. 

The President, who noted that the Nigerian International Investors’ Forum coincided with the nation’s 50 years anniversary, expressed the hope that it would create new initiatives, which feed into the formal celebrations in October. 

Executive Secretary, NIPC, Engr. Mustafa Bello, reiterated the commitment of the commission to attract investments into the country. Dangote said in line with its ongoing expansion plan, it recently announced plans to merge its cement production subsidiaries, Dangote Cement Plc and Benue Cement Company Plc (BCC). The merger, it said, would result in the listing of Dangote Cement with a valuation of N2.13 trillion on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This, it also said, would be one of the largest transactions ever done in the history of the exchange and it has the potential to increase market capitalisation to about N8 trillion with Dangote Cement contributing about 30 percent. 

“The Group’s core business focus is to provide local, value-added products and services that meet the ‘basic needs’ of the Nigerian population. Through the construction and operation of large scale manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa, the Group is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment, prevent capital flight and provide locally produced goods for local people. The Dangote Group has a workforce of over 14,000 employees,” the statement stated.

INDIA: JK Cement slips into red, reports Rs 21-cr loss

NEW DELHI: J K Cement has slipped into the red with a Rs 21-crore loss in the quarter ended September 30, due to a stiff rise in costs of raw material, freight, and fuel. 

The company had reported Rs 65.38-crore net profit in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, it said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange. 

Total income of the company also remained almost static at Rs 434.85 crore vis-a-vis 439.64 crore reported in the July-September quarter of the last fiscal. 

Consumption of raw materials increased to Rs 60.58 crore in the reporting quarter from Rs 44.16 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. Expenditure on fuel also rose to Rs 110.5 crore from Rs 88.62 crore. 

Freight costs increased to Rs 101.05 crore from Rs 78.91 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

AFRICA: NIGERIA: FG inaugurates backward integration policy committee on cement

Engineer Joseph Makoju, special adviser to Aliko Dangote (second left) and Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, signing the certificates at the handover of Nigerian government’s 43 per cent equity in Onigbolo Cement Company, Benin Republic to Dangote Industries Limited. With them are Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lawrence Akindele (first right), and L.G. Salami, an acting director at Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry (first left).

The Federal government has inaugurated a monitoring committee on the implementation of Backward Integration Policy on cement sub-sector.

While inaugurating the committee, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, said the objective of the committee would be to ensure transparency and guarantee full implementation of the backward integration policy in the sub-sector. 

He said the setting up of the committee was proposed by stakeholders while its composition was based on equal representation from established manufacturing companies as well as importers that have initiated moves to establish integrated cement plants.

The minister said the committee would also be expected to ascertain the level of compliance to the policy by all investors in the cement industry and to verify the designed capacities of all cement manufacturing plants, including on-going cement projects.

The committee would also ascertain the present and the actual production capacities of all cement plants - manufacturing and terminal operations – as well as verify the extent of performance of bulk cement importers in the execution of the licence granted them.

Also, the committee would also suggest and recommend measures that would accelerate the attainment of self sufficiency in cement production in Nigeria as well as recommend measures that would guarantee stability and reduction in the market price of cement. 

The Committee comprises of the Director, Industrial Development Department, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Chairman); Director Fiscal Department, Federal Ministry of Finance; representative of Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and Chairman of Cement Manufacturers Associations. Dr. Joseph Makoju. Others were representatives of Dangote Industries, Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNW) Flour Mills Plc, Eastern Bulkcem Company and Ibeto Cement Company Limited.

INDIA: India Cements cuts prices to INR 255 per 50 kg bag

India Cements has reduced the prices of cement to INR 255 to INR 265 per 50 kg bag, two days after the Tamil Nadu Government asked the cement manufacturers to take steps to cut the escalating cost of the key construction component.

In a statement here, the Chennai based company said that it has reduced the cost of a 50 kg bag to INR 255 in Chennai and Chengalpet and INR 265 per bag to stockists in other districts of the state. The company, however, did not mention the prevailing price at which it was selling to stockists.

On Tuesday, Mr M Karunanidhi chief minister of Chennai chaired a meeting of top heads of the state government and cement manufacturers, during which the Government urged the latter to make efforts to reduce cement prices, which have been on the rise during t he past few months, hovering around INR 290 per bag.

The increase in cement prices had forced some builders to import it from Pakistan and Bangladesh at cheaper rates.

PAKISTAN: Cement dispatches at four-month high in Oct

LAHORE - The cement dispatches stood at four-month high of 2.9 million tons in Oct compared to 2 million tons in Sep 2010, showing an increase of 45 percent.

According to the data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), the major increase was seen in exports which improved by 52 percent to 0.94 million tons compared to 0.62 million tons last month. This was followed by local dispatches, which improved by 44 percent to 1.97 million tons as compared to 1.37 million tons in Sep 2010. 

However, compared to same period last year total dispatches were lower by 4 percent to 2.9 million tons from 3 million tons sold in Oct 2009. While 16 percent decline was seen in exports but local off take improved by 3 percent. 

The cumulative dispatches for 4MFY11 stood lower by 11 percent to 10.12 million tons as compared to 11.42 million tons in same period last year.

A cement sector expert, Furqan Punjani, said that cement dispatches would improve with major contribution from local demand once reconstruction activities begin. 

It is to be noted that the prices of building material particularly of cement have witnessed a sharp increase all over the country, as cement cartel, bricks kiln owners and hoarders have become active, adding to the sufferings of the flood-hit people, who have started reconstruction of their homes in their respective areas. 

The cement and bricks unavailability has hit the provincial capital, as the citizens who are currently busy in constructing their homes, are finding it difficult to get the material even at inflated rates. 

The rates of cement, the most important component of the building material, has jumped to Rs335 per 50kg bag from Rs290-300, while the same bag is being sold at Rs350 in flood-affected areas of the Southern Punjab and Sindh, showing a hike of over Rs50 just in a week.

INDIA: ACC, Ambuja Cements climb on strong cement sales

Ambuja Cements advanced Rs. 5.30 or 3.7% to close at Rs. 148 after touching a day's high of Rs. 149 and a day's low of Rs. 143. Traded volume was 9.2 lakh shares as against the two-week average of 3.79 lakh shares.

Shares of ACC and Ambuja Cements rose as much as 3.44% and 3.71% respectively in a rising market after both the cement majors announced strong growth in their cement production and shipment for October.

ACC Ltd closed at Rs. 1083.25 up Rs. 26.30 or 2.49%. The stock touched intra day high of Rs.1093.35 and intra day low of Rs. 1066.

Ambuja Cements closed at Rs. 150.35 up Rs. 2.35 or 1.59%. The stock touched intra day high of Rs. 153.50 and intra day low of Rs. 149.70.

ACC reported that for October 2010 its cement production was 1.98mn tons compared to 1.71mn tons in October 2009. Cement despatches for October 2010 was 1.92mn tons compared to 1.69mn tons in the same period last year.

Ambuja Cements reported that its cement production in October 2010 was 1.75mn tons compared to 1.49mn tons in October 2009. Cement despatches for October 2010 was 1.75mn tons compared to 1.46mn tons in the same period last year.

UltraTech Cement, controlled by the Aditya Birla Group, posted a 21.26% jump in dispatches for October at 3.42 million tons while its production rose 18.16% to 3.47 million tons. 

Shares of Ultra Tech Cement Ltd rose as much as 2.01%. The stock closed at Rs.1116.24 down Rs. 3.30 or 0.29%. The stock touched intra day high of Rs. 1142.10 and intra day low of Rs. 1110.25.

India Cements was up 4.40%. The stock closed at Rs. 118.85, while Madras Cementswas up almost 6.4%. The stock closed at Rs. 126.10. HeidelBerg Cement India rose 3.64%. The stock closed at Rs. 49.15, while Prism Cement advanced 2.19%. The stock closed at Rs. 60.95.

INDIA: Lafarge's cement plant plans meets with protest

Plans of French cement giant Lafarge to set up a Rs 1000 crore plant in Meghalaya has met with a roadblock, with locals upping their ante citing environmental hazards.

Lafarge plans to invest to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore to set up a 1.1 million tons greenfield integrated cement plant in limestone-rich Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

The project plan is at a preliminary stage and the company is currently conducting technical and feasibility studies to assess various parameters of the project, company sources said.

On Thursday, hundreds of people of the Nongkhlieh area where the plant is proposed foiled a move by officials of the district council to carry out a survey of the area and warned against issuing any no-objection certificate to the company.

Local villagers holding black flags and placards demonstrated at the site contending that the proposed plant would lead to degradation of the environment and cause disharmony among inhabitants of the area.

The district council officials had to return without doing the survey.

Sources said that Lafarge has already obtained a no-objection-certificate (NOC) from the Dorbar (traditional tribal village council) of Nongkhlieh village.

Shouting slogans against the district council, the protesters also demanded resignation of the Dorbar chief for granting the NOC. Lafarge, on its part, has initiated developmental projects in the area for the benefit of the local community.

Being an integrated cement plant, it will have its own captive limestone source in close proximity of the unit.

The French company's limestone mining project in Meghalaya is also shut since February following an apex court order on a petition filed by an NGO alleging that Lafarge's mining activities violated the constitutional provision against handing over tribal land in the northeast to non-tribals.

PARAGUAY: INC: Piden facilitar importación de cemento

Referentes de la construcción coincidieron  que ante la escasez del cemento el Gobierno debería eliminar temporalmente la exigencia de controles de calidad por parte del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología, Normalización y Metrología (INTN) al producto importado, buscando de esta manera paliar la crisis.    

La Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC) se encuentra trabajando a su máxima capacidad, pero aún así no da abasto a la gran demanda de cemento del mercado local, lo que está haciendo subir el precio de cada bolsa, que  llega a G. 50.000 cada unidad,  que pesa 50 kilogramos.    

“Creo que deberían eliminar temporalmente la exigencia de certificación del INTN y habilitar la importación de las marcas más reconocidas de la zona. Después de todo el cemento pasa por un control de calidad muy riguroso en los países de origen. Los brasileños y argentinos no van a ser tan irresponsables en usar un cemento que no sirve”, dijo la fuente.

Explicó que el “cuello” de botella con la importación se da con el tema de la certificación de calidad, ya que si un importador quiere traer cemento primero tiene que ir los técnicos a la planta proveedora, traer las muestras, hacer las pruebas y, finalmente, en 28 días otorgar la certificación de calidad.

“Es por eso que ante una emergencia yo creo que debería temporalmente eliminarse la exigencia del control de calidad del INTN”, apuntó.    

Los constructores explicaron que en el caso de las importaciones sin certificados de calidad, de hecho las empresas constructoras vienen realizando pruebas de calidad requeridas.

CHILE: Cementos Melón: reactivación por reconstrucción no se vio este año

Un auspicioso 2011 se encuentra proyectando la cementera Melón, con un aumento de 10% en la demanda, superando las 4,7 millones de toneladas vendidas para el próximo año.

Así lo aseguró el gerente general de la firma, Jorge Eugenín, quien indicó que sustentan estos pronósticos "gracias a la esperada recuperación post terremoto, al anunciado presupuesto gubernamental con acento en infraestructura y vivienda para 2011, y a las claras señales de crecimiento económico y superación de la crisis".

Esto porque, de acuerdo al ejecutivo, durante este año la empresa, viculada desde 2009 al grupo peruano Brescia, no observó la esperada reactivación tras la contracción de 20% en el mercado durante 2009, producto de la crisis económica.

"Para este año se esperaba una recuperación, pero debido al terremoto y al tiempo que demoran los planes de reconstrucción, ello no ocurrió", señaló.

Aún así, Eugenín indicó que en lo que va del año la demanda por cemento ha subido un 5% "y pensamos que durante el cuarto trimestre podría haber una recuperación orientada a los proyectos de reconstrucción".

En cuanto a producción de cemento, el gerente general de Melón estimó que ésta se incrementará cerca de un 10%, crecimiento que aseguró estar "muy bien posicionados para enfrentar", entre otros, gracias a puesta en marcha de su nueva planta en Ventanas.

Eugenín además adelantó que Melón está evaluando su proyección internacional, específicamente en Latinoamérica, región que para la cementera "promete muy buenos años de crecimiento sostenido en el futuro".

ALEMANIA: HeidelbergCement reduce el beneficio neto un 42 por ciento hasta septiembre

Fráncfort (Alemania),(EFE).- El productor de cemento HeidelbergCement bajó en los tres primeros trimestres el beneficio neto hasta los 372 millones de euros (517 millones de dólares), un 42 por ciento menos que en igual periodo de 2009, pero lo dobló en el tercer trimestre.

HeidelbergCement informó hoy de que hasta septiembre bajaron las ventas de cemento.

La facturación subió entre enero y septiembre un 5,8 por ciento, hasta 8.877 millones de euros (12.339 millones de dólares).

La ganancia operativa aumentó un 1,8 por ciento, hasta 1.047 millones de euros (1.455 millones de dólares).

Las acciones de HeidelbergCement subían hoy un 6,5 por ciento, hasta 40,03 euros hacia las 11.10 horas GMT ya que en el tercer trimestre dobló la ganancia neta hasta 322 millones de euros (447 millones de dólares).

La facturación subió en el tercer trimestre un 13 por ciento, hasta 3.401 millones de euros (4.727 millones de dólares) por las ventas en Asia y en África.

HeildelbergCement dijo que su programa de ahorro de costes "FitnessPlus 2010" progresa según lo previsto.

La compañía prevé un crecimiento sostenido en la región de Asia y el Pacífico y en África y el Mediterráneo, así como una continuación de la recuperación en Norteamérica y Europa.

Además, HeidelbergCement se va a centrar en reducir su deuda y en expandir las capacidades de cemento en regiones de crecimiento. EFE

VENEZUELA: Sobreprecio en el cemento

Así lo denunció el diputado electo por el estado Lara, Eduardo Gómez Sigala, al tiempo que agregó que de lo contrario, “el cemento no está porque las empresas tienen los hornos paralizados”.

A raíz de la estatización de la industria del cemento por parte del Gobierno Nacional, “la gente que quiere construir sus casas tiene que pasar por unas estructuras de gente ligada al gobierno, con sobreprecio, para poder conseguir el cemento”. Así lo denunció el diputado electo por el estado Lara, Eduardo Gómez Sigala, al tiempo que agregó que de lo contrario, “el cemento no está porque las empresas tienen los hornos paralizados”. La declaración del legislador opositor la hizo en un programa de opinión de una televisora nacional de noticias durante la mañana de este lunes. El igualmente ex presidente de Conindustria, criticó la política de estatizaciones y expropiaciones que adelanta el Ejecutivo, que a su juicio “no construye nada”. “Pero ve el ejemplo del cemento. Supuestamente las empresas anteriores lo exportaban, lo producían más caro. Ahora, ni se produce, ni se exporta ni hay para la producción interna. Entonces la gente que quiere construir sus casas tiene que pasar por unas estructuras de gente ligada al gobierno, con sobreprecio, para poder conseguir el cemento. O el cemento no está porque las empresas tienen los hornos paralizados”, concluyó.

PERU: Créditos hipotecarios y consumo de cemento crecen en 22%

Los créditos hipotecarios para vivienda en el mes de setiembre 2010, aumentaron en 20.66%, seguido de los créditos corporativos de grandes, medianas, pequeñas y microempresas que crecieron en 17.6% y los créditos de consumo en 10.04%, informó el Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI). 

Indicó además que el consumo interno de cemento en el mes de setiembre del presente año se incrementó en 22.03%, respecto a similar mes del año anterior, sumándose así 15 meses de crecimiento continuo.

Según el Informe Técnico “Avance Coyuntural de la Actividad Económica, setiembre 2010”, elaborado por el INEI, este resultado reflejó el dinamismo en la edificación de viviendas, centros comerciales e inversiones en el sector electricidad, minería e infraestructura vial.

En el noveno mes del año, la producción del sector electricidad, según las empresas generadoras de electricidad para el servicio público, registró un aumento de 7.37%, respecto al mes de setiembre de 2009.

Sepa más

Las empresas que registraron el mayor aporte fueron Edegel, Egasa, SN Power Perú,   San Gabán, Electro Piura, Kallpa Generación, Egesur, Electro Oriente, Electro Ucayali, entre las principales.   

VIETNAM: Grupo tailandés amplía negocios en Viet Nam

El Grupo tailandés Siam Cement (SCG) anunció hoy ampliar sus negocios en Viet Nam y otros países del Sudeste de Asia en el sector de materiales constructivos.

Según el nuevo plan, el SCG extenderá las redes comerciales, aumentará las ventas y promocionará sus marcas en este país, donde prevé obtener 12 millones 800 mil dólares del ingreso en 2011.El valor de las ventas de la entidad siamesa en Viet Nam alcanzará unos nueve millones de dólares en este año, un incremento del 30 por ciento en comparación con el 2009.

ITALIA: Pericolosa la cementeria che potrebbe sorgere sull'Andria-Trani

"Dopo un attento studio degli incartamenti del progetto riguardante la cementeria -sottolinea Michele Lorusso di SEL- che sarà realizzata sulla strada provinciale Andria – Trani, s’infittiscono le preoccupazioni riguardanti il pericoloso impatto ambientale e la correlata incidenza di patologie letali. 

L’impianto proposto dalla General Cement Puglia (riconducibile al gruppo Matarrese) dovrà produrre 499 tonnellate al giorno di clinker, però al tempo stesso, in qualche pagina successiva, la stessa ditta proponente sostiene, che usciranno dall’azienda 225,000 t/anno (616 t/giorno) di cemento, anche se l’impianto ha una potenzialità produttiva di 600,000 t/anno, pari a 1,664 t/giorno. Qualcosa non quadra. Come mai questa discordanza? Sarà frutto di un errore, sarà frutto di qualche arcano mistero, o è frutto di un’opera di qualche raffinato mago che con qualche arcano sotterfugio cerca di aggirare la normativa in vigore? 

Siccome a pensar male si fa peccato, ma spesso ci si azzecca, penso che questa discordanza sia opera di una raffinata scaltrezza che il gruppo Matarrese, ha già dimostrato in altre occasioni, e che non ha mancato di mostrare anche in questa situazione. 

Vediamo perché. 

La normativa in vigore (d.lgs. del 18 febbraio 2005, numero 59, allegato I, punto 3.1) stabilisce che tutti gli impianti (clinker-cemento) che producono quantitativi maggiori di 500 t/giorno devono essere obbligatoriamente sottoposti a procedura IPPC-A.I.A. (autorizzazione integrata ambientale). Si tratta di una procedura rigorosa che, per tutti gli impianti industriali ed energetici (inceneritori, cementifici, raffinerie, ecc.), garantisce la migliore sicurezza tecnologica praticabile per ridurre al minimo possibile i danni ecologici ed epidemiologici connessi alle emissioni. Dichiarando una produzione, ipotetica (lo ammette la stessa ditta) di 499 t/giorno, la General Cement Puglia intende evitare la gravosa procedura IPPC-AIA che produrrebbe investimenti maggiori nelle tecnologie adottate per mitigare il danno ambientale ed epidemiologico. Ecco spiegato il misterioso arcano del numero magico “499 t/giorno”. 

La normativa in materia è chiara e non può essere aggirata con una dichiarazione d’intenti, se appare evidente che l’impianto è dimensionato per quantitativi ben maggiori di 500 t/giorno. 

Già in precedenza avevo manifestato le mie preoccupazioni e come al solito, sono stato rimproverato da qualche movimento ambientalista,o pseudo tale, che preferisce inceneritori e cementerie purché rispettino i parametri di legge, senza considerare le ricadute sulla salute,sull’ambiente e sull’economia del territorio circostante. 

Ritengo che la General Cement Puglia, abbia già ricevuto molti sconti e favori ancor prima di ottenere l’autorizzazione per la realizzazione dell’impianto: la variante urbanistica da zona agricola a zona industriale è un macroscopico regalo dell’amministrazione comunale di Trani, che si somma all’avallo del gentlemen’s agreement con il quale è stato assicurato che nell’impianto non saranno bruciati rifiuti. Una vera e propria favola,perché giuridicamente quell’accordo tra gentiluomini, è carta straccia, tenuto conto della legislazione comunitaria e nazionale che favoriscono il co-incenerimento nei cementifici. 

Inoltre sempre dagli incartamenti si evince che dalle ciminiere dell’impianto saranno emesse ad una altezza di 50 metri dal suolo 51,52 t/anno di polveri di svariata natura chimica, e 343,44 t/anno di ossidi di zolfo e di ossidi di azoto; che saranno bruciate 19.598 t/anno di carbone raggiungendo nella camera di combustione temperature di 1400 gradi. Il tutto ad appena 6 chilometri di distanza dal gigantesco cementificio di Barletta, dove si producono 1.100.000 t/anno di cemento e dove già vengono bruciate 27.000 t/anno di rifiuti plastici, e che l’Assessore provinciale Cefola, sembra voler concedere l’incremento richiesto, a patto che si bruci Cdr di qualità (chi ci assicura che è realmente di qualità?). 

A fronte di questo scempio, che andrà a martoriare ulteriormente la nostra cara amata Terra, i cittadini non battono ciglio e preferiscono interessarsi delle frequentazioni di minorenni del Premier. E questo è grave, perché gli effetti sulla salute, sull’ambiente, sull’economia che questi ecomostri generano, non hanno né colore politico, né si fermano solo nella Città in cui sono realizzati. 

Quindi cari concittadini -conclude Michele Lorusso, lanciando un appello civico-, è arrivato il momento svegliarsi e di opporsi a questi Signori che alla nostra salute antepongono i loro interessi economici, perché i cementifici sono tra le sorgenti di contaminanti a più elevata incidenza cancerogena e soprattutto perché la nostra salute e il nostro ambiente non sono in vendita".

INDIA: Cements slashes price to Rs 255 per 50 kg bag

CHENNAI: Chennai-based India Cements today said it has reduced prices of its cement to Rs 255-265 per 50 kg bag, two days after the Tamil Nadu government asked cement makers to take steps to cut escalating cost of the key construction component. 

In a statement here, Chennai-headquartered India Cements said it had reduced the cost of a 50 kg bag to Rs 255 in Chennai and Chengalpet and Rs 265 per bag to stockists in other districts of the state. 

The company, however, did not mention the prevailing price at which it was selling to stockists. 

On Tuesday, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had chaired a meeting of top heads of the state government and cement manufacturers, during which the government urged the latter to make efforts to reduce cement prices, which have been on the rise for the past few months, hovering around the Rs 290 per bag in the last few months. 

The increase in cement prices had forced some builders to import it from Pakistan and Bangladesh at cheaper rates. 

Last week, India Cements made a formal foray into the Northern region by commencing production at its Mahi Cement plant which the company invested about Rs 800 crore. 

The plant has a capacity to produce 1.5 million tons and would cater to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. With this new facility, the total capacity of India Cements would be 16 million tonnes.

INDIA: Cement demand spurs in India

With the end of the monsoon season demand for cement has surged with large cement makers clocking double digit growth in dispatches. 

ACC has managed to sell 14% more cement in October at 1.92 million tonne while production for the month rose 16% to 1.98 million tonne. Ambuja Cements also reported 20% growth in dispatches with a 17% rise in output. However, the Aditya Birla Group outpaced the formers with a 21% growth in sales and 18% increase in output for the month.

The pent up demand from infrastructure projects under execution and also a pick up in housing, post the rains helped demand to spurt and the industry expects the strong growth to continue until March.

But, contrary to the usual trend, this would not lead to price rise but indeed may weaken. Expert opined the improved offtake will lead to higher capacity utilization and on the back of recent three price hikes of which two were well absorbed, going forward prices are likely to come under pressure, as most companies will try to maximize their production.

INDIA: PRISM CEMENT SEES 89% DROP IN SEPT QTR PROFITS

India-based Prism Cement (BSE:500338) last week reported a dip of 88.9 per cent in its net profit to Rs 4.6 crore (US$1 million) for the quarter ended on September 30, 2010 compared to the similar period last fiscal year.

The company had reported a net profit of Rs 41.48 crore for the quarter ended on September 30, 2009, the company said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange.

In terms of total income, the company had reported a growth of 14.1 per cent during July-September quarter of the current fiscal year at Rs 756.99 crore, as against Rs 662.01 crore in the corresponding period a year ago.

The company has also announced an interim dividend of Rs 1 per equity share of 10 each for the financial year 2010.

MEXICO: Caen ventas globales de Cementos Chihuahua

Disminuyeron 9.7% durante el tercer trimestre de 2010, ante la baja demanda de materiales en el mercado de EU

Las ventas globales de Grupo Cemento Chihuahua (GCC) del tercer trimestre de 2010 cayeron 9.7%.

La cementera reportó la cifra de ingresos por dos mil 350.9 millones de pesos, en comparación con 2 mil 602.8 millones de pesos en 2009. Las ventas en términos de dólares se redujeron 6%.

La caída se explica por la baja demanda de materiales en el mercado de Estados Unidos, en tanto que sus operaciones en México y Bolivia le reportaron saldos positivos.

En suelo mexicano las ventas alcanzaron la cifra de 643.6 millones de pesos en el tercer trimestre de 2010, lo que se tradujo en un saldo positivo de 6.6% en comparación con el tercer trimestre de 2009 debido principalmente al desempeño de los sectores industrial y comercial. "Se observaron incrementos en los volúmenes de venta de todos los productos, un aumento del precio del concreto premezclado y una ligera reducción del precio del cemento", explicó la firma en su reporte enviado a sus inversionistas.

Las ventas proporcionales de GCC en Bolivia fueron de 231.9 millones de pesos durante el tercer trimestre de 2010 mostrando un crecimiento de 10.2% en comparación con las ventas por 210.4 millones de pesos del mismo trimestre del año anterior.

En Estados Unidos, las ventas fueron por mil 475.4 millones de pesos, en comparación a los mil 788.9 millones de pesos del tercer trimestre de 2009. "Se observó un incremento en el volumen vendido de concreto premezclado y una reducción del volumen de cemento. La apreciación del peso con respecto al dólar y menores precios fueron los principales factores en la disminución de ventas en este país", abundaron los ejecutivos de la cementare en el informe del tercer trimestre.

BRASIL: Produção de cimento da CSN dobra em 2011

Volta Redonda

A fábrica de cimento da CSN, que está operando sem nenhum estoque, vai ter condições de dobrar sua produção a partir do ano que vem, quando entrará em funcionamento a fábrica de clínquer (uma matéria-prima usada na produção de cimento) da CSN em Arcos (MG). Este ano, a produção deve ficar em torno de um milhão de toneladas, e em 2011 o volume vai passar para pouco mais de dois milhões, mas não haverá necessidade de adquirir novos equipamentos: "Vai bastar acelerar o ritmo de produção na fábrica de Volta Redonda", disse o diretor comercial da CSN, José Antônio Martinez, durante entrevista coletiva concedida hoje (29).

A CSN Cimentos é uma das prioridades da Companhia. A empresa pretende comprar ou construir mais fábricas de cimento no Brasil e em países da América Latina, que tem a preferência porque as projeções indicam um crescimento econômico mais acelerado do que a média mundial para a região.

Outro projeto da CSN que deve ser entrar em produção em breve é a usina de aços longos em Volta Redonda. Segundo executivos da Companhia, a data prevista para o início das operações é no último trimestre de 2011 ou no início de 2012. A fábrica, que também vai funcionar dentro da Usina Presidente Vargas, em Volta Redonda, faz parte de uma estratégia da siderúrgica para fornecer soluções integradas para construção civil, unindo cimento, aços longos e aços planos.

Além da unidade de Volta Redonda, outras duas devem começar a ser construídas em breve, com previsão de estarem operando dentro de três anos: uma das usinas ficará em Minas Gerais e a outra, em São Paulo.

IPO de mineração depende de negociações

A abertura do capital do negócio de minério de minério de ferro da CSN depende ainda de negociações entre a Companhia e os acionistas minoritários da Namisa - mineradora em que a CSN detém 60% do capital. Motivo: a Companhia quer fundir as operações da Namisa com as da mina de Casa de Pedra, o que vai gerar uma empresa com maior porte - as reservas de Casa de Pedra estão entre as maiores do Brasil.

Só depois de concluídas essas negociações é que a empresa poderá ter pronta a estrutura da operação de abertura de capital, mas mesmo assim a decisão vai depender das características do mercado de capitais: a operação só será realizada quando o mercado estiver favorável.

BRASIL: Votorantim Cimentos recebe licença para instalar fábrica em Cuiabá

A Votorantim Cimentos, uma das dez maiores empresas globais de cimento, concreto e agregados, recebeu ontem autorização da Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente (SEMA) do Mato Grosso para iniciar a construção de uma fábrica de cimento em Cuiabá. Prevista para operar a partir de 2012, a unidade terá capacidade de produzir 1,2 milhão de toneladas por ano.

A nova fábrica faz parte do plano de expansão da capacidade da Votorantim Cimentos, que de 2007 a 2013 contempla investimentos de R$ 5 bilhões e engloba todas as regiões brasileiras para atender à crescente descentralização e interiorização do consumo de cimento no País. Recentemente, a empresa investiu na expansão da capacidade de produção de sua fábrica em Nobres (MT).

A Votorantim Cimentos reforça seu compromisso com seus clientes localizados em todas as regiões do País e sua missão de colaborar com o crescimento e desenvolvimento do Brasil.

Sobre a Votorantim Cimentos

A Votorantim Cimentos está entre os dez maiores players globais de cimento, concreto e agregados, com forte presença nacional e nas Américas. No Brasil, mantém a liderança de mercado, com 40% de participação. Ao todo, possui cerca de 40 unidades de produção de cimento, agregados e argamassas, considerando ainda aproximadamente 70 centros de distribuição e 90 centrais de concreto no País. Comercializa mais de 40 produtos, com destaque para as marcas Votoran, Itaú, Poty, Tocantins, Aratu, Votomassa, Matrix e Engemix.

Na América do Norte, opera integralmente seis fábricas e mais de 120 unidades de concreto e agregados nos Estados Unidos e Canadá. Na América do Sul, mantém relevantes participações acionárias em unidades na Bolívia, Paraguai, Chile, Argentina e Uruguai. Mais recentemente, a Votorantim Cimentos ampliou sua presença internacional para outros continentes, adquirindo participação de 21,2% da Cimpor, uma das maiores empresas de cimento do mundo, sediada em Portugal e com operações em 12 países da Europa, África e Ásia.

Em 2009, obteve receita líquida de R$ 7,4 bilhões, EBITDA (geração líquida de caixa) de R$ 2,6 bilhões e investimento (CAPEX) de R$ 700 milhões. Com 11 mil funcionários, a empresa está entre as 150 Melhores para Trabalhar do Guia Você S.A./Exame. Faz parte integrante do Grupo Votorantim, um dos maiores conglomerados empresariais da América Latina, com atuação destacada nas áreas industrial, finanças e novos negócios.

INDIA: India Cements enters north

Cement major India Cements Ltd launched their operations in the northern part of India through its newly commissioned Mahi cement plant in Rajasthan. Mahi cement plant. The 1.5 million tonnes capacity plant has been set up at an outlay of `800 crore by through India Cement’s wholly owned subsidiary called Indo Zinc Limited.

“The plant will begin its complete production by end of November and cater to cement requirements of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh,” said Mr Rakesh Singh, vice-president, India Cements. “The plant, which was operational yesterday, began its dispatches within Rajasthan,” he added.

INDIA: October sees cement sales firm up

After a long lull, cement biggies ACC, UltraTech and Ambuja Cements saw their despatches rise in October.

UltraTech, controlled by the Aditya Birla Group, posted a 21.26% jump in despatches at 3.42 million tonne (mt) as production rose 18.16% to 3.47 mt. ACC and Ambuja Cements, both controlled by Holcim, posted an increase of 13.6% and 19.6%, respectively in 

cement despatches.

ACC’s cement despatches increased to 1.92 mt from last year’s 1.69 mtpa and production to 1.98 mt from 1.71 mt last year.

Ambuja Cements saw sales up at 1.75 mt compared with 1.46 mt.

Rupesh Sankhe, research analyst with Angel Broking said, “ACC has done well due to the addition in capacity in its Orissa plant six months back, which has now stabilised. Thus it has seen higher incremental production. Though we expected better despatch figures for this quarter and we are witnessing demand from every vertical. Cement players have also increased their capacity utilisation from 68% in the last quarter to 74% now and they are expected to take it up higher which would mean again full surplus would come in the market.”

For the January-October period, Ambuja’s despatches increased 8.5% to 16.88 mt, whereas UltraTech saw a jump of 6.51% to 22.03 mt.

Another analyst from a domestic brokerage said, “Now that the sales numbers are improving for these big ticket guys, the increase in capacity would mean pressure on prices. There has been three round of price increase which has been accepted by the market positively but if excess supply comes into play then sustaining price levels would become difficult and margins would then come under pressure.”

A report by Pradeep Mahtani and Raashi Chopra of Citi dated October 28 says, “The higher prices may sustain for a while, but with utilisation levels at 70-80% we believe there is near-term downside price risk. We expect prices to remain firm in 3QFY11 but believe a correction is likely next quarter.”

ESPAÑA: Consigue reducir un 69% los accidentes laborales

El Índice de Frecuencia de accidentes (o número de accidentes con baja por cada millón de horas trabajadas) en la compañía Holcim España ha descendido de 3,9 a 1,2, lo que supone una reducción de más de un 69 por ciento desde 2007 a 2009.

Ampliar foto

Como muestra de la importancia que tiene para Holcim la seguridad, la compañía va a celebrar la 'Semana de la Seguridad y el liderazgo' en su fábrica de cemento de Lorca en Murcia.

Esta iniciativa de formación y concienciación, se desarrollará entre los días 25 y 29 de octubre y su objetivo es involucrar a todos los empleados de la instalación en que mantengan una actitud segura y responsable, según han informado fuentes de la compañía.

Esta semana de la seguridad forma parte de las acciones que se llevan a cabo periódicamente como parte de la Política de Seguridad de la compañía que se articula en torno al establecimiento de una cultura de seguridad, la asignación de responsabilidades, la movilización de los trabajadores y la gestión de los resultados. Objetivo: Cero Accidentes

El curso de formación en seguridad y liderazgo puesto en marcha en la fábrica de Holcim en Lorca tiene como finalidad el seguir avanzando hacia la consecución del objetivo de 'Cero accidentes' y se desarrollará tanto a través de charlas teóricas como de ejercicios prácticos.

Así, a lo largo de la semana se van a llevar a cabo charlas y talleres de formación y concienciación, en los que los trabajadores tendrán la oportunidad de revisar las 5 Reglas Cardinales de Seguridad de Holcim y los 13 Elementos de Prevención de Accidentes Graves.

El programa incluye formación específica en trabajos en altura, primeros auxilios, procedimientos de aislamiento y bloqueo de instalaciones, manipulación de productos químicos o prevención de riesgos en espacios confinados, entre otros.

Asimismo, los empleados serán instruidos en prevención de accidentes mediante la realización de 'Observaciones Preventivas de Seguridad' y revisarán el Plan de Emergencia de la fábrica, realizando un simulacro para entrenar sus habilidades en gestión de situaciones críticas y extinción de incendios.

Respetar protocolos de seguridad

Como complemento a todas estas actividades, en cada una de ellas, se darán unas pautas a los empleados para que puedan identificar y aplicar las distintas competencias de liderazgo de la compañía, y que están encaminadas hacia el principio de que en Holcim la seguridad no se delega, ya que cada uno es responsable de su propia seguridad y la de sus compañeros.

En relación con la Semana de Seguridad y Liderazgo el director de la fábrica, José Nars, ha remarcado "la importancia de esta iniciativa, como una acción para tomar conciencia de la necesidad de estar alerta constantemente ante posibles accidentes laborales".

En este sentido ha señalado que "la probabilidad de que ocurran accidentes es mucho mayor cuando se baja la guardia por exceso de confianza o prisas, por eso es esencial que todos respetemos siempre los protocolos de seguridad durante la realización de nuestro trabajo diario".

Holcim españa

Holcim España es uno de los líderes nacionales en producción y distribución de cemento, árido, hormigón y mortero. Holcim desarrolla sus actividades en las comunidades autónomas de Andalucía, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, Cataluña y la Comunidad Valenciana.

Con más de 1.500 profesionales, Holcim está presente en España desde 1980 gestionando distintas instalaciones, entre ellas varias fábricas de cemento que dan servicio a sus comunidades desde hace 100 años.