Cement News tagged under: fuel & Power

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Indian cement companies amongst bidders for coal blocks

10 September 2019, Published under Cement News

India’s UltraTech Cement, ACC Cement and Reliance Cement are amongst the prospective bidders for the auction of 27 coal blocks. To attract investors, the government has allowed the sale of up to half the output to Coal India at a notified price, while a further 25 per cent can be sold in the open market. However, block operators have to consume at least 25 per cent of their produce in their own plant, according to The Economic Times. The Coal Ministry has also increased the time limit for...

Holcim Argentina to replace 35% of energy with wind power

24 July 2019, Published under Cement News

Holcim Argentina has signed a contract with YPF Luz to replace 35 per cent of its conventionally-sourced energy with wind power. This translates to 142,000Mwh per annum of demand, which YPF Luz will supply from its 30MW Los Teros wind farm. The wind farm is currently being constructed in Azul, Buenos Aires, and will begin delivering power to the Argentine Interconnected System in February 2020. "It is a pleasure to present this agreement. It is a sign of Holcim’s commitment to sustainabilit...

Sudan's cement factories cut production by 50%

17 July 2018, Published under Cement News

Fuel shortages and frequent power cuts have forced cement factories in Sudan's River Nile state to reduce their production by more than half. Atbara Cement plant has cut its cement production from 120,000tpm  to 60,000tpm, said a company spokesperson. He said that the cement production in El Salam Factory dropped from 60,000tpm to 20,000tpm, El Takamol Factory from 80,000tpmto 32,000tpm, the North Factory from 120,000tpm to 50,000tpm and the Berber Factory from 70,000tpm to 30,000tpm. A g...

Sanghi Industries sees fall in fuel cost

22 November 2017, Published under Cement News

Sanghi Industries Ltd has seen a fall in fuel and power cost in the September quarter, contradicting the trend of rising fuel prices across India. Sanghi Industries has benefitted from its close position to limestone mines and the increased use of lignite for fuel and power, according to Mint. The Indian government recently reduced the Goods Sales Tax (GST) on lignite to five per cent from eight per cent. Due to this reduction the company has increased its usage and now meets 75 per cent o...

Nigeria: fuel shortages hit cement output

16 February 2017, Published under Cement News

Shortages of oil and natural gas have caused cement producers in Nigeria to cut output, with some plants having to close temporarily, reports the Vanguard newspaper. The declining availability of natural gas, low-pour fuel oil and (LPFO), automotive gas oil (AGO) has led to a reduction in cement manufacturing as firms struggle to find sufficient fuel to support normal operations. Dangote, Nigeria’s largest producer, said that its fuel costs rose US$14.40/t in 2016 and that it was conve...

India: fuel cost rise puts squeeze on margins

21 December 2016, Published under Cement News

The rising cost of coal and petcoke have put pressure on cement producers even as the impact of demonetisation is depressing demand and bringing down prices, the Business Standard reports. Cement prices in southern India have fallen by INR30 to about INR300 (US$4.42) a bag, while prices in the west are lower still, having slipped to INR245. Analysts believe that demand will fall by 15-20 per cent in December. Meanwhile, petcoke imports have increased in price from US$72.13/t in July to...

Nigeria: Dangote Cement to switch to using coal

09 August 2016, Published under Cement News

Dangote Cement has announced plans to begin its own coal mining operations as it switches away from gas as a means for powering its plants. The company will begin producing coal at the Ankpa mines in Kogi State from 4Q16. Previously, Dangote had used natural gas as a fuel for its plants, but interruptions to supply and the revaluation of the naira have caused the company to seek alternatives. Group CEO Onne van der Weijde stated: "We decided two to three years ago to diversify and re-r...

Suez Cement plant to switch to coal

19 September 2014, Published under Cement News

Italcementi Group is looking to find a long-term solution to the fuel shortage problems it faces in Egypt with its subsidiary Suez Cement. Suez Cement needs to find a reliable fuel source for its cement plants to keep its 18 per cent of local cement sales. The Suez plant will use coal next November, while two of the group’s its other factories in Tora and Helwan will start in two years' time, said Suez Cement Co CEO, Omar Mehanna. “We will begin using coal to generate energy for cement prod...

Tanzanian production costs seen coming down, competition to increase

08 August 2012, Published under Cement News

Cement production costs in Tanzania are expected to decline in the near future due to falling energy costs and improved supply. A study entitled “Equity Research Cement Sector Local Listed Companies” by Tanzanian Securities indicates that due to the expected entry of three new players, prices are also seen declining. "We see an improvement in energy supply, introduction of new sources of energy and stabilisation of energy prices in the country as a special opportunity for cement producers"...