Gypsum industry news

Sudan: Glass fibre-reinforced gypsum (GFRG) modular systems producer Eco Buildings Group and Socotra Real Estate Development have launched a joint venture (JV). Socotra Real Estate Development will invest US$5.82m over six months in the JV’s construction and operation of two new production lines.

Eco Buildings Group Executive Vice Chair Etrur Albani said that the ‘landmark’ JV ‘not only serves to further demonstrate the increasing global demand for our GFRG modular housing solutions, but also the efficiency of our international expansion strategy.’

Canada: Saint-Gobain Canada has scaled up its Kootenay West, British Columbia, gypsum mine to full production capacity of 400,000t/yr. The mine supplies gypsum wallboard subsidiary CertainTeed Canada's Calgary and Vancouver plants. It has an anticipated operational lifespan of 40 years and employs 30 people. The mine will replace the role of the Windermere gypsum mine in Saint-Gobain Canada’s gypsum wallboard operations. The Windermere mine will continue to operate for another 15 years, supplying customers in the agriculture and cement sectors. The company first broke ground on the new mine at Kootenay West in 2019.

CertainTeed Canada has initiated permitting for the construction of a rail loadout at the Kootenay West mine. When commissioned, the facility will reduce the total annual distance of gypsum transported between Kootenay West and the company’s gypsum wallboard plants by 94% from 4.5 million kilometres to 250,000km.

CEO Jean-Claude Lasserre said "It is with great pride that we officially launch full operations of our Kootenay West gypsum mine in British Columbia, a strategic expansion of our presence in Canada, strengthening our operations to continue meeting the construction market demand.”

Brazil: Trevo Drywall has signed an agreement with utilities provider GNLink to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel the gypsum calcining system and dryer at its Cariri gypsum wallboard plant. The plant will consume an expected 6.84Mm³/yr of LNG, reducing its CO₂ emissions by 2140t/yr compared with its previous fuelling arrangements.

Trevo Drywall CEO Wilson Soares said "It's a strategic decision that reflects our brand values and our commitment to a cleaner, more efficient industry."

Chile: Eco Buildings Group has won a public sector contract to deliver 20,000 modular homes using its glass fibre-reinforced gypsum (GFRG) modular systems technology. The contract will span seven years. Eco Buildings Group says that it marks the start of its full-scale commercial roll-out in Latin America.

The Chilean government has made a down payment of US$14.8m for a first tranche of 1210 homes, which are already designated for occupation by families.