ARGENTINA: Inauguraron una nueva fábrica de cemento con una inversión de us$ 85 millones

La presidenta Cristina Fernández de Kirchner inauguró la nueva planta de la empresa Cementos Avellaneda, que demandó una inversión de 85 millones y que permitirá a la compañía alcanzar una producción de 2,5 millones de toneladas al año, la de mayor capacidad instalada en el país.

La mandataria inauguró esta planta a través de una teleconferencia mientras que en la localidad bonaerense de Olavarría, donde está la planta, se encontraban el vicepresidente, Amado Boudou, y la ministra de Industria, Débora Giorgi.

La titular de Industria destacó que en el país “recibimos inversiones en todos los sectores productivos y en todo el país; en este caso en el sector de materiales para la construcción, que es estratégico para el crecimiento de la infraestructura, uno de los pilares del modelo porque se necesita llevar más obras y energía para que Argentina siga creciendo”.

Giorgi destacó además que tanto en ventas como en consumo per capita “el cemento marcó récords históricos en 2011: se despacharon 11,6 millones de toneladas y el consumo llegó a 275 kg/habitante, que equivalen a 5 bolsas y media por persona por año. Son 80 kilos más que hace 5 años atrás”.

El director de Cementos Avellaneda, Jorge Heller, explicó que para la construcción de la nueva planta la firma invirtió 55 millones de dólares en la construcción de un nuevo molino, y otros 60 millones en un nuevo horno.

El desarrollo de ingeniería para la nueva planta se realizó en Argentina, agregó la información.

En el complejo de Olavarría, de los 300 empleos directos cerca de la mitad corresponden a ingenieros y técnicos con alto nivel de capacitación para hacer desarrollos de tecnología propia y buscar oportunidades de desarrollo sustentable en los aspectos ambientales, además del mantenimiento de la planta, concluyó el texto.

BOLIVIA: Empresa china entregó el estudio a diseño final para planta cementera de Cochabamba

La empresa china Sinoma entregó el estudio a diseño final para la construcción de una planta de cemento en el departamento y está en curso el trámite de una ficha ambiental para habilitarla en la región de Santiváñez, se informó el jueves de manera oficial.

"Hay dos probabilidades. Una (para una planta) de 1.000 toneladas y otra de 2.500 toneladas producidas por día y esta situación hay que revisarla de acuerdo con nuestro mercado y lo que estamos buscando", manifestó el asesor general de la Gobernación de Cochabamba, Freddy San Millán.

Recordó que la principal finalidad de la planta es producir cemento para la exportación, con lo que se pretende incrementar los ingresos regionales de manera considerable.

Estableció que la construcción de la infraestructura considerará el lugar más apto respecto a parámetros como el acceso a materias primas y facilidades para las instalaciones de gas, agua y electricidad.

"Todo esto se está analizando. Quien va a dar mayores datos será el señor Oscar Coca, quien como asesor técnico está a cargo de los proyectos de envergadura para el departamento", añadió.

El secretario departamental de Minería, José Fernández, estableció que está en curso la dotación de una ficha ambiental para la planta y que el proceso comenzó una vez definido que será construida en la región de Santivañez.

Explicó que se considera que la opción más viable está dirigida a contar con una infraestructura capaz de producir 2.500 toneladas de cemento por día.

Mencionó que una infraestructura de esas características demandaría unos 100 millones de dólares que se conseguiría de un crédito del gobierno chino y 80 millones más que serían gestionados ante el Estado boliviano.

"La empresa china incluso nos ha ofrecido darnos los 180 millones de dólares para una obra llave en mano, que podríamos devolver en un período de entre 7 a 10 años", manifestó.

Asimismo, Fernández dijo que se prevé que para la construcción de la planta se precisará de entre 8 a 12 hectáreas de terreno en el área elegida.

Una misión técnica de la empresa Sinoma de China llegó en julio del pasado año para realizar el estudio de pre factibilidad de la obra y visitar los lugares de su posible ubicación.

La compañía es la segunda más grande del mundo en la construcción de plantas de cemento y está interesada en invertir capital en el departamento.

INDIA: Coal India Said to Suspend 250 Million-Ton Imported Fuel Order

Coal India Ltd. (COAL), the world’s biggest producer of the commodity, has put on hold a plan to import as much as 250 million metric tons of the fuel over a decade, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

The company scrapped a proposal to buy 4 million tons of coal this year and suspended a separate plan to import about 20 million tons annually over a decade as it could not agree with customers on delivering the fuel to plants, the people said yesterday, asking not to be identified because they’re not allowed to speak to the media. Coal India spokesman Devendra Prasad didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Customers, including utilities, want coal to be delivered at their plants, while the mining company offered to unload shipments at ports, the people said. Coal India typically sells its domestic output to customers at the mines and doesn’t engage in inland transportation, they said.

“Inland movement of coal has been a big issue that needs to be sorted out or it will hurt power production and in turn, economic growth,” said Alex Mathews, head of research at Kochi, India-based Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services. “Many power producers have kept their capacity addition plans on hold because of coal shortages and Coal India’s decision is another sign that the problem is becoming bigger.”

India’s coal production has trailed demand from utilities, and cement makers because of delays in land acquisition and environmental approvals. Output in the year ending March 31 is expected to reach 559 million tons, falling short of demand by 137 million tons, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in September. Supplies from countries such as Australia, Indonesia and South Africa may be needed to meet the gap.

Single-Largest Order

Coal India sought to buy 20 million tons of the fuel in a tender last year, the country’s single-largest overseas order, as part of a plan to import 250 million tons of coal over a decade, a company official said in April, declining to be identified because the matter was confidential.

The state-owned miner has been seeking construction of at least four railway links for as many as six years, to ease congestion and enable a 66 percent increase in output. Many Indian mines are operating at one-third of capacity as the rail system can’t move more cargo, according to Alok Perti, secretary at the coal ministry.

India has added an average 180 kilometers (112 miles) of railroads every year since gaining independence in 1947, according to the rail ministry. The nation may build a dedicated 3,300-kilometer freight rail network that will connect eastern and western regions by 2017.

Power-station coal prices at Australia’s Newcastle port, an Asian benchmark, rose 3.6 percent in the week ended Jan. 27 to $118.80 a ton from $114.65 the previous week, according to IHS McCloskey data on Bloomberg.

Separately, NTPC Ltd., India’s biggest power producer, may award Adani Enterprises Ltd., India’s largest coal importer, contracts to import as much as 4 million tons of coal, three people with knowledge of the matter said yesterday. The total order from NTPC is worth $475 million, according to calculations based on current Newcastle prices.

AFRICA: ZAMBIA: Maamba Collieries to realise $23m from coal sales

MAAMBA Collieries Limited (MCL) has projected to sell 360,000 tonnes of high grade coal worth US$23 million this year, head of corporate affairs Jonadhan Lavu has said.

In an interview in Lusaka at the weekend, Mr Lavu said the firm had started the sales of high grade coal with 30,000 tonnes destined for the local market and 10,000 tonnes for the export market.

Mr Lavu said the company would be producing coal according to the demand saying 2,000 tonnes was recently supplied to Lafarge Cement.

"Maamba Collieries has plans to satisfy the Zambian coal appetite and has been receiving enquiries from numerous waiting customers on when it would start catering to their coal needs. The company has commenced movement of coal on executed orders. In the last few weeks MCL has executed orders with companies such as Lafarge," he said.

Mr Lavu said Zambezi Portland Cement had been given an enquiry order of 6,000 tonnes of coal a month.

The firm has also supplied 4,000 tonnes of coal to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"We are exporting coal to DRC, Malawi and Namibia. MCL is also finalising enquiries received from various consumers such as Universial Mining Company, Zambezi Portland Cement, GECA Mines, Match Corporation and Dangote Cement among others amounting to approximately 70,000 tonnes per month," he said.

The company plans to achieve a monthly coal sales of 40,000 tonnes of high grade coal to the domestic and export market.The current coal market size locally is about 30,000 tonnes a month and 10,000 tonnes for the regional markets.

The firm has projected to market and sell 70,000 tonnes of high grade coal per month in 2013 and 120,000 tonnes in 2014.The plant has the capacity to produce 120,000 tonnes per month of washed coal.

Mr Lavu said Dangote Cement plans to procure both low and high grade coal for their thermal power plant.He said the company was concluding a deal with the Rail Systems of Zambia (RSZ) to transport coal from Batoka terminal to Lusaka and Ndola.

The 10,000 tonnes of coal would be stock-piled in Ndola.

Meanwhile, Universal Mining and Chemicals Industries Limited director corporate affairs Bright Chunga said the company had in principle agreed to procure about 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes if high grade coal from Maamba Collieries on a monthly basis.

Dr Chunga said in order to cater for the on-going expansion works at the Kafue Steel plant, the company had successful discussion with Maamba for the supply of high grade coal for the steel plant.

"We look forward to a very strong and mutually beneficial relationship with MCL for the many years to come as we grow on our capacities to build Kafue Steel plant into a dominant steel player in the southern African region," Dr Chunga said.

VIETNAM: Demand for cement to increase substantially in 2012

The Ministry of Construction forecasts that demand for cement will top 55-56.5 million tons this year, an increase of 11-12 per cent compared to last year.

The Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation says it plans to produce and market around 19-19.5 million tons, joint-venture enterprises plan for 17-17.5 million tons, while other companies are targeting 19-19.5 million tons.

In the first month of 2012, cement production was 2.92 million tons; accounting to 5.3 percent of this year’s planned target, while sales amounted to 2.85 million tons, 5.2 percent of this year’s target.

Import of clinker was estimated at 50,000 tons in January this year, while export of cement and clinker at around 250,000 tons.