Africa & The Middle East

A review of cement standards has been underway following a spate of building collapses in the country, which have been attributed to the misuse of 32.5 grade cement.

Domestic cement sales fall in Morocco; Habesha Cement receives mining license; Mozambique’s Sofala province invites investment in the cement industry.

Cemex Egypt has made an additional donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which will provide food rations to school children and their families in deprived areas in Upper Egypt.

Arabian Cement Company earned net profit of US$16.3 million in the first quarter, as reported in its first earnings announcement since being listed on the stock exchange.

Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) has increased its capital spending budget for expansion projects in Zimbabwe to approximately US$280 million.

The South African cement company is expanding across Africa and aims to increase capacity by 75% in the next three years.

Lafarge has denied holding a ‘dominant position’ after antitrust authorities begin an investigation into the company’s involvement in the Kenyan cement industry.

Reports indicate that in the first month of the Iranian calendar year, Iran produced more than 4.5 million t of cement.

Tanga Cement Company Limited (TCCL) has donated 1000 bags of cement to both the Pangani and Korogwe districts, Tanzania, as part of its mission to support communities in the country.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the Construction Cost Index for buildings and roads increased in March 2014.

Lafarge’s stake in the Kenyan cement industry is under investigation; the price of cement raises a ‘red flag’ for the Competition Authority.

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has given final approval for a new national cement standard, which will be mandatory for both domestically produced and imported cement.

The 10 000 tpd cement production line for Yanbu Cement Company has been completed, while Sinoma has signed a new EPC contract for a 5000 tpd plant in Algeria.

Nedbank Capital and the Bank of China in Johannesburg have announced the raising of debt capital to fund Mamba Cement, a 1 million tpa plant near Northam in Limpopo Province.

Raysut Cement and Union Cement Company release their first quarter results and Iran witnesses a huge increase in cement and clinker exports.