Cement News tagged under: Lafarge

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STC eyes Holcim Mauritius acquisition

28 July 2014, Published under Cement News

In the latest step towards to completing the LafargeHolcim merger, Holcim Mauritius could become a public-private partnership (PPP) while the State Trading Corporation (STC) could re-enter the island's cement market at the same time. STC would be willing to buy the 51 per cent stake in Holcim Mauritius put up for sale, according to Defimedia.The balance of shares is owned by Gamma-Civic. The presence of STC in the market would offer a greater price control as it will control the entire...

Lafarge reiterates 2014 demand growth rate

25 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge has confirmed its 2014 sales volumes target for the year with an improving US outlook and signs of recovery in Europe, although emerging markets continue to be the main driver of growth. First half turnover came off by 3.8 per cent to EUR6000m and the EBITDA was one per cent lower at EUR1155m, while the trading profit eased by just 0.3 per cent to EUR609m. The net attributable profit did improve by three per cent to EUR205m. Net debt at the end of June was 15 per cent lower at...

Lafarge sells Pakistan cement operations

24 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge announced the sale of its cement operations in Pakistan for an enterprise value of US$329m to local producer Bestway Cement. Lafarge Pakistan Cement Ltd, in which Lafarge owns a 75.86 per cent stake, operates an integrated cement plant located close to Islamabad in the north of the country. The divestment contributes to Lafarge’s net debt reduction goals, the company said in a statement. Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval.

Gebr Pfeiffer wins Algeria order

21 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Gebr Pfeiffer SE has won a contract to supply a MVR 6700 C-6 cement mill and an MVR 6000 R-6 raw mill for Lafarge’s cement plant near the Algerian town of Biskra. This acquisition underpins Lafarge’s strategy towards the "one-mill solution with MultiDrive®", Gebr Pfeiffer said, noting that it offers a "high level of availability when it comes to cement grinding, thus giving preference to this concept over the conventional two-mill solution with less availability." The cement mill has a...

Lafarge Holcim antitrust reviews ‘on-track’

21 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Holcim and Lafarge are in "advanced" discussions with European antitrust regulators over their proposed merger, Bernard Fontana, chief executive of Holcim, told the Wall Street Journal. Earlier this month, the companies identified shared assets, including 23 plants in eight countries amounting to a total of 27.5Mta, that will be sold to allow the merger to go ahead. Mr Fontana told the newspaper that discussions with the European Union – where the two companies have some of their greatest...

Lafarge acquires Kercim grinding plant, France

18 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge has acquired Ciments Kercim's grinding plant, located in the bulk terminal port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, western France. The 0.6Mta Kercim facility, launched in spring 2013, had been led by Jean-Marc Domange, ex-president of the Syndicat Français de l'Industrie Cimentière (SFIC) and former head of Ciments Calcia, who died months later in October 2013 following a long illness. Lafarge is reported to have acquired the plant from the 12 existing shareholders, heirs of Mr Domange a...

Ashaka to fast-track Gombe plant expansion, Nigeria

18 July 2014, Published under Cement News

The board of directors of Nigerian producer Ashaka Cement plc, with the support of parent company Lafarge, has agreed to fast-track the expansion of its US$617m cement plant in Gombe state. Guillaume Roux, CEO of Lafarge Nigeria and Benin Republic, had said that the investment of US$617m in Nigeria was a demonstration of its commitment to the economic growth of the country. Chairman of the board of Ashaka Cement, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, confirmed the developments, telling local press that...

Change of Country CEO at Lafarge South Africa

17 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Lafarge South Africa has announced that Kenneth MacLean has been appointed Country CEO, replacing Thierry Legrand who has taken up a new position at the Lafarge’s headquarters in Paris. After being with Lafarge South Africa for five years. Mr Legrand’s is taking up the role of Senior Vice President (SVP) of Transformation and Acceleration. In his new position Mr Legrand, who has been with Lafarge for 20 years, will focus on developing innovation within the group. Mr MacLean started with th...

Elementia in talks for Lafarge JV stake, Mexico

15 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Elementia SA, the Mexican cement maker backed by Carlos Slim and Antonio del Valle, is in talks to buy out partner Lafarge SA in their Mexican joint venture, Bloomberg reported Monday citing people with knowledge of the matter. Elementia reportedly has the right to buy Lafarge's 47 per cent stake under an option in the original terms of the Mexico partnership. Lafarge's move to sell the stake is said to be in line with its proposed merger with Holcim which also has operations in Mexico. It ...

Mexico: Cementos Fortaleza inaugurates new plant

10 July 2014, Published under Cement News

Cementos Fortaleza’s new 1Mta greenfield plant in Santiago de Anaya, Hidalgo, Mexico, has been inaugurated. The official launch took place in the presence of Elementia president, Francisco Del Valle Perochena, along with Mexico’s Minister of the Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, and Hidalgo’s state governor, Franciso Olvera. “After 70 years a new cement company is born in the country; we are very proud and committed to participate in this industry,“ said Mr Del Valle Perochena. Ou...