Africa & The Middle East

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.

Some key facts from the cement markets in MENA and Turkey, the subject of the regional report in World Cement’s May 2014 issue.

Fábrica de Cimento do Kwanza Sul has completed testing and is ready to supply cement to the market.

Pending final government approval, Suez Cement is reportedly planning a EGP300 million conversion project to switch two of its plants to burn coal instead of natural gas.

The cost of sales has been higher than anticipated but the company says it remains committed to keeping the price of cement down.

ASEC Engineering enters the Sub-Saharan African market with an O&M contract with Cimento Nacionale Ltda in Mozambique.

Saudi Arabia’s United Cement Industrial Company will install a Loesche raw mill at its plant in Al-Sadiya.