Uzbekistan: United Cement Group subsidiary Qizilqumsement says that it has awarded contracts for the upgrade of Lines 1 and 2 at its Qizilqum cement plant in Navoiy Region. Uzbekistan Newsline has reported that the producer has completed testing to ascertain the lines parameters of operation, fuel and energy consumption and output. This will inform its decisions, with a view to reducing the cost of clinker production. Qizilqumsement is currently in the process of building the Qizilqum plant s new 767,000t/yr Line 4, which will also increase its clinker capacity by 657,000t/yr. The producer expects this to lower the cost of its clinker production by 30% /Global Cement