Oman: A joint venture of Kunooz Oman Holding and Belgium-based Etex plans to build a new US$26m gypsum wallboard plant, The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported. Additionally, the partners announced that Etex has acquired a 25% stake in Kunooz Oman Holding subsidiary Kunooz Gypsum. Kunooz Gypsum operates the 2.3Mt/yr-capacity Salalah gypsum mine in Dhofar.

Kunooz Oman Holding said “The joint venture will be supported by long-term gypsum supply agreements serving both local production and international export markets. Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, the partnership will drive downstream value creation, industrial diversification and employment, while positioning Oman as a regional hub for high-value gypsum products.”

The new joint venture is owned 51% by Etex and 49% by Kunooz Oman Holding. Kunooz Oman Holding is in turn 20% owned by Omani state investment vehicle Minerals Development Oman.

Türkiye: Murat Savcı has stepped into the role of CEO at Saint-Gobain Türkiye. Savcı will manage local subsidiaries operating under 12 brands and serve on the boards of Saint-Gobain Weber Türkiye, Chryso Türkiye, Saint-Gobain Abrasives Türkiye and joint ventures İzocam and Dalsan. He will aim to strengthen the company's integrated solutions leadership in line with the group’s Lead & Grow strategy. Savcı takes over from Aykut Aydoğan, who will leave the company after serving in the role since September 2021.

Murat Savcı brings over 25 years’ building materials industry experience to the position. He has sat on the boards of İzocam, İzoder and the Association of Turkish Construction Material Producers, and was İzocam managing director from February 2020. Before that, he served as general manager of Baumit Türkiye, managing partner at AzeYapı Construction and project manager at Meuter Architekturbüro and Robert Perthel Bauunternehmung in Germany.

Savcı said "Türkiye has significant potential in the field of construction and infrastructure solutions. In the coming period we will take steps to make the best use of this potential with our strong teams. We will further develop our reduced-CO₂ and high value-added solutions, and further strengthen our business approach that creates value for society, the environment and our stakeholders by offering more integrated services to our customers."

Chile/Peru: Knauf has appointed Carlos Kattan as CEO for Chile and Peru, following the departure of Víctor Ide. Noticias Financieras News has reported that Kattan will advance strategic projects in both markets, including the US$102m construction of the 22Mm2/yr Puente Alto gypsum wallboard plant and Rubí quarry in San José de Maipo, Chile.

Carlos Kattan previously served as Knauf’s Central America Regional Manager and as General Manager of Knauf Honduras. He studied Industrial Distribution and Logistics, Business Administration and Management at East Carolina University, US.

Nigeria: BUA Cement subsidiary BUA Gypsum Plaster has commenced commercial production of gypsum wallboard at its Port Harcourt plant in Rivers State. The Premium Times newspaper has reported the plant also has capacity to produce 2400t/day of plaster, production of which began in 2025. Cement producer BUA Cement says that it is diversifying to capitalise on Nigeria’s gypsum wallboard supply gap. In addition to Nigeria, the Port Harcourt plant will also supply other West African countries.