Australia: Boral says that it may be ready to announce its plans with its USG Boral joint venture in August 2019. It is currently conducting due diligence on the joint venture’s operations in Asia following Knauf’s acquisition of USG in early 2019, according to the Australian newspaper. Forward options include established a new Asian joint-venture with Knauf or buying USG Boral’s gypsum wallboard business in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and islands in the South West Pacific. However, Boral’s chief executive officer (CEO) Mike Kane said that there might not be enough time to arrange a deal by the publication of Boral’s full year results in August 2019.

South Korea: USG Boral has appointed Hyuk-Joon Kwon appointed as its chief executive officer (CEO) for its South Korean operations. Prior to his role at USG Boral, Kwon was President & Zone Operations Director of Otis Elevator Korea. He was also previously the General Counsel who advised on various aspects of the business, including corporate restructuring, investments and strategy for the company.

India: GE Power India has been award a contract by Aravali Power worth US$107m for a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system. The contract is for design, engineering, civil work, supply, erection and commissioning of wet FGD systems along with auxiliaries like limestone and gypsum handling systems and wet stack on full turnkey basis.

Aravali Power is a joint venture company between NTPC, Haryana Power Generation Company and Indraprastha Power Generation Company. It operates a coal power station near Jharli, Jhajjar in Haryana with three 500MW units. An additional two 660MW units are planned for a future expansion project.

US: Eagle Materials’ gypsum wallboard and paperboard sales grew by 5% year-on-year to US$634m in the year to 31 March 2019 from US$603m in the same period in 2017. Its gypsum wallboard sales volumes increased by 4% to 246Mm2 from 237Mm². Operating earnings from this division rose by 13% to US$216m from US$191m. Sales were driven by higher sales volumes and prices. Overall, the company’s sales and earnings grew slightly.