Cement News tagged under: southern Africa

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Eswatini faces cement shortage

28 August 2020, Published under Cement News

Significant players in Eswatini’s construction industry have seen projects stall due to a cement shortage, according to The Swazi Observer. Nhlanhla Dlamini, CEO of the Construction Industry Council, has announced that a meeting was convened with the association of builders, manufacturers and suppliers to deliberate on the issue. "We are aware of the cement shortage which has been caused by shortage of supplies’ due to COVID-19 which led to the lockdown," said Mr Dlamini. In the short ...

Namibia’s cement sales affected by COVID-19

17 August 2020, Published under Cement News

The lack of economic activity due to the coronavirus pandemic has affected cement sales by Ohorongo Cement, said Frankleen Alberts, the company’s customer relations and public affairs manager. “Cement sales have been affected since the outbreak of the virus. We were able to continue supplying our Namibian market without major interruptions while adhering to the regulations under the state of emergency. However, due to the restrictions and quarantine rules by neighbouring countries, our exp...

PPC considers restructuring and refinancing options

14 August 2020, Published under Cement News

Following reports that South Africa’s PPC was looking to raise ZAR1.25bn (US$71.51m) from a rights issue, the company has stated that it is currently in talks with lenders before taking any action. It also noted that its requirement to restructure and refinance the group was primarily a result of its investment in PPC Barnet (Democratic Republic of Congo), according to Business Day. While the company was considering a rights issue, the timing and size of it is dependent on several factors...

South African cement sector is operating in survival mode

13 July 2020, Published under Cement News

Bheki Mthembu, head of the inland business unit of PPC, says the lack of large-scale construction projects in South Africa has left cement producers heavily dependent on residential construction. "The sector has had issues for a while and government needs to support us through infrastructure maintenance and other projects. We were in survival mode and COVID-19 almost served as the final nail in the coffin," said Bheki Mthembu. "There is a very small piece of cake that everyone ...

Competition Commission to hold public consultation on Ohorongo Cement sale

10 July 2020, Published under Cement News

The Namibia Competition Commission has advised that members of the public can contribute their views on the proposed sale of Ohorongo to West China Cement. Members of the public will be invited to a conference on the matter as the acquisition is likely to create a monopoly in the cement industry in Namibia, as West China Cement also has a majority stake ion Cheetah Cement which is the sole competitor to Ohorongho Cement. The commissions is also concerned that Namibian employees at Ohorongo...

AfriSam now permitted to supply certain customers

15 May 2020, Published under Cement News

As South Africa has lowered its national coronavirus lockdown to Level 4, the supply of cement and other construction materials can now reach specific markets, according to Engineering News.  "With the lowering . . . to Alert Level 4, the new regulations permit AfriSam to resume some of its production and to supply certain customers," said AfriSam sales and marketing executive, Richard Tomes. AfriSam is now reportedly set to supply cement, aggregates and ready-mix to permitted Level 4 cus...