Quarry Products

The Moroccan branch of French construction materials group Lafarge is looking to transform itself into a supplier of innovative construction solutions and has set an objective of an additional MAD 500 million (€44.57 million) profit by the end of 2015. The group has also implemented a new signature, Constructing Better Towns, and has carried out studies on 1,000 individual homebuilders to identify their needs.

Having established greater clarity and product advice as the main issues, the company has now a

The current picture in the UK aggregates industry is one of dawning optimism and confidence, overshadowed slightly by continuing problems with recovering capital, against a backdrop of dissatisfaction and unrest caused by the ongoing controversy over the Aggregates Levy. It is a cauldron of different views for such a small region, but it is nothing if not dynamic, writes Julie-Anne Ryan. The general figures speak for themselves in terms of recovery, as outlined by the Mineral Products Association (MPA).

India's Adhunik Cement has been accused of operating a plant in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya since 2008 without ever receiving clearance from the Ministry of Forests and Environment, causing significant environmental damage in the process. The Civil Society Women's Organisation (CSWO) has officially reported its concerns over the 1.5million tonnes/year facility, which includes a captive 20mW power plant, stating it has not closed despite a report by a Ministry-appointed scientist made in 2013.
The CSWO has ca

Mexico’s Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the Government of Nuevo Leon have highlighted the efforts implemented by Cemex to reduce gas emissions and bolster the use of alternative fuels.
As part of the Mexico Greenhouse Gases Programme (GEI Mexico), Cemex has received the GEI-2 award, with its plants in Guadalajara and Tepeaca granted the GEI-3 award. Gas emissions at the latter have been lowered by around 233,000tonnes, whereas Cemex has cut CO2 emissions at its Guadal

Lafarge Wapco, the Nigerian subsidiary of French cement producer Lafarge is planning to raise NGN 100 billion (€446.74 million) by issuing debts or shares in local and overseas markets.

The company will ask for shareholders to approve the fund raising in July 2014. Lafarge earlier announced plans to merge Lafarge Wapco with its South Africa unit to create Lafarge Africa, an entity worth €988 million, and approval of shareholders is needed.

If the merger is successful, Lafarge Wapco's market capitalisa

Holcim US has plans to invest US$100 million (€74 million) in a modernisation of its Ada, Oklahoma cement plant.

The company, one of the largest suppliers of portland, blended cements and related mineral components in the United States, submitted an application for a permit to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to begin upgrading its sites in Ada between October and December 2014.

The modernisation will increase the plant’s capacity in Ada by about 20%.

In 2013 Swiss cement and construction materials producer Holcim's Slovakian subsidiary, Holcim Slovensko, made a loss of €22.03 million compared to a net profit of €9.26 million in 2012.

In 2013 its loss from economic activities fell markedly by nearly 59% on year to €15.63 million, while from financial activities it made a loss of €7.7 million compared to a profit of €16.08 million in 2012. Its EBITDA amounted to €10.22 million, while production represented €123.87 million, up by 36.5% on year.

Holci

Based on an Atecap report, the Italian concrete industry will see a 9% year-on-year drop in production in 2014, compared to a 20.5% year-on-year drop in 2013. A slow recovery ranging between 4%-6% is expected in 2015-2016.