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Volma starts construction of new gypsum wallboard plant near Minsk
Written by Global Gypsum staff
09 October 2015
Belarus: Construction of a new gypsum plant in Hatava near Minsk started on 7 October 2015. The project is financed by Russia's Volma Corporation, which acquired the Belarusian government's 99.5% stake in AAT Belhips, a Minsk-based manufacturer of gypsum products, for Euro4.65m in 2014. In 2014, Volma Corporation also signed an agreement whereby it would provide a total of Euro45.5m for the modernisation of the Belhips plant and the construction of a new gypsum plant.
Volma Corporation chose Belarus as the place for its new plant because of the country's 'stability and open economy,' according to Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatol Kalinin. According to him, the future plant, which is expected to be completed in less than two and a half years, will provide a boost to the Belarusian economy and contribute to Volma's development as well. The plant will manufacture 30Mm2/yr of wallboard, 500,000Mm3/yr of gypsum blocks and 100,000t/yr of dry building mixes. Most of the output will be exported to western Europe when operations start in 2018. The new plant is expected to create at least 180 new jobs.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Volma Company Yuri Goncharov stressed that the construction of a new plant is not a simple project from an economic point of view. "It is not the best time for return on investment. However, looking into the future we understand that the Belarusian construction sector has big potential," said Goncharov. "These are big capacities. Today, Belarus consumes 12Mm2/yr of gypsum. Our main objective is to prove to the Belarusian construction industry that gypsum materials are more efficient in terms of energy performance, environmental friendliness and economy."
Belarusian First Deputy Construction Minister Alyaksandr Kruchanaw described the project as very important for Belarus' construction sector. "It is important for Minsk as well because it is part of efforts to remove industrial facilities from the capital city, which will improve the environment in the city," said Kruchanaw.
Transnational Group enters leasing agreement on Mount Vista Gypsum property in Southern Nevada
Written by Global Gypsum staff
08 October 2015
US: Transnational Group has entered into a mining lease agreement with the Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) to secure full rights to mine gypsum on several claims located in southern Nevada that comprise the Mount Vista Gypsum property.
According to the agreement, Transnational has acquired full mining rights of any gypsum that is located on the Mount Vista property in exchange for a production royalty. There are 12 claims included in the lease agreement that comprise a total of 1.86km2. The term of the company's mining lease for Mount Vista is 10 years with three five-year renewable options.
"Transnational is excited to announce the finalisation of our agreement with the Nevada Outdoor School that will allow us to mine gypsum and limestone contained in Mount Vista at an agreed upon royalty. This agreement enables the possibility of discovery and mining other valuable minerals and metals as well," said CEO of Transnational Group, Philip Dutoit. The agreement stipulates that the company will negotiate a separate royalty agreement with the NOS for each resource.
Gypsum exports from Monroe Port in Michigan increase
Written by Global Gypsum staff
06 October 2015
US: The Port of Monroe in Michigan has been busy exporting gypsum since 4 September 2015, according to Paul C LaMarre III, port director. Five consecutive gypsum loads will leave the port in less than two weeks. Most of the activity takes place at night. The first four loads for USG Corp will be shipped to Port Colborne, Ontario, while the fifth load, for Lafarge, is headed for Alpena.
"Last year, we shipped two loads and this year we will have shipped 10, with more on the horizon," said LaMarre said. The port is also 'very close' to executing a gypsum management agreement with DTE Energy, in which the port will manage and market the gypsum produced. "This would be the first such agreement of its kind between a public port and a public utility," said LaMarre. The Port of Monroe moved more than 2.4Mt of cargo through its shipping channel in 2014, shattering the record for the second time in a row.
Rajasthan’s Mining Department leased 28.3km2 of gypsum mines under Singhvi
Written by Global Gypsum staff
06 October 2015
India: Rajasthan's suspended mining secretary Ashok Singhvi, who was arrested for allegedly running a massive bribery racket, was instrumental in throwing open Rajasthan's gypsum reserves, which are the largest in the country, to indiscriminate mining.
On 17 August 2014, the mines department headed by Singhvi de-reserved gypsum mining in Rajasthan, ending the exclusive gypsum mining rights enjoyed by state-owned Rajasthan Mines and Minerals Ltd (RSMM). According to documents recently accessed by local press, the mines department threw open some 28.3km2 of gypsum mines without inviting applications or notifying specific mining zones, in clear violation of the centre's 30 October 2014 guidelines. Several of the leases were granted on 12 January 2015, one day before the central government promulgated the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, which ended discretionary bases of awarding leases and made auction the sole method of allotment.
The guidelines, issued to curb illegal mining, intended to provide greater transparency in the use of natural resources. However, documents show that the Rajasthan Mines Department granted 15 gypsum mining leases against applications dated before 17 August 2014, when gypsum mining was the exclusive right of RSMM and no applications for its mining could have been entertained from anyone else. Some applications dated as far back as 8 May 2012, more than three years before gypsum was de-reserved for mining by private companies. This meant that leases were granted to 'favourites' on back-dated applications so they could qualify on a 'first come, first served' basis. Leases were hurriedly awarded on this basis to avoid running into the new MMDR ordinance, which came in to effect on 13 January 2015 and mandated the auction route for granting leases.
New 5% import duty shrinks gypsum export volumes to Bangladesh
Written by Global Gypsum staff
06 October 2015
Bhutan/Bangladesh: Gypsum exports from Bhutan to Bangladesh have declined substantially after a 5% duty was levied on the mineral in July 2015.
Figures from RSA Private Limited in Phuentsholing revealed a drastic drop in the last two months. RSA exported gypsum worth US$12,049 in August 2015 and US$24,781 in July 2015. In January 2015, RSA had recorded exports worth US$111,952. RSA is the principal company that exports gypsum to Bangladesh from Bhutan. There are about four manufacturers in the country that route their gypsum to Bangladesh through RSA.
According to the bilateral trade agreement signed between the two countries, gypsum is one of the 18 products from Bhutan that is exempted from paying tax in Bangladesh. However, the new tariff schedule the government of Bangladesh published for 2015 - 2016 specified that only importers registered as a supplier for agricultural products were exempted from this tax. All other establishments that imported gypsum from Bhutan for other purposes were levied a 5% tax. Since the gypsum exported from the country is not used as fertiliser, the number of importers has decreased in Bangladesh, disrupting demand and supply. Gypsum from Bhutan is imported mostly by cement manufacturing companies in Bangladesh.
The general secretary with Bhutan Exporters Association (BEA) Tshering Yeshi said that the harmonised system code notified by Bangladesh in July 2015 contradicted the existing code as per the bilateral trade agreement. "We discussed this issue during the joint sitting customs commission meeting in July 2015," said Yeshi, adding that the representatives from Bangladesh said that they would look into the matter immediately. However, there has been no developments to date. The bilateral trade agreement between the two countries allows 90 products from Bangladesh free of tax, while 18 products from Bhutan are duty free in Bangladesh.