Following the resignation of its main funding members, the 75-year-old Cement & Concrete Institute (C&CI) announced earlier this month that it would be closing its doors.

The C&CI said in a statement that the process to give effect to its decision had started on February 27 and was expected to take two to three months to complete. It indicated that this process would be the main focus of management going forward and would significantly impact on the services the institute usually provided.

C&CI MD Bryan Perrie told Engineering News that it was not clear who would be taking over the C&CI’s various duties and services, which included training and education, an information centre, and advisory and consulting services. He said this would have to be informed by the C&CI’s members, some of which had already indicated their withdrawal from the institute.

He would also not comment on whether a new industry body would be created.

Following the C&CI’s announcement, cement supplier PPC indicated that it had withdrawn its membership from the institute and would redirect its funding to various research and development initiatives that would benefit the cement and concrete industry.

South African cement manufacturer AfriSam also announced its resignation from the C&CI, indicating that, despite its confidence in the value the institute offered the construction industry, as well as its efforts to sustain the industry body, the institute’s closure could not be avoided.

AfriSam said it would, as part of the closure process, participate in the steering committee meetings.

“AfriSam would like to use this opportunity to thank the C&CI for the valuable role it played in promoting the interests and general advancement of the cement and concrete industries as a whole in Southern Africa over the past 75 years,” the company stated.

In a statement announcing its exit from the C&CI, local cement, concrete and aggregate supplier Lafarge said: “These events are deeply regrettable for the C&CI’s employees and the construction industry as a whole.

“The institute provided a respected service to the industry for over 70 years and has been providing a high standard of information services on building materials and best practices, as well as internationally recognised training courses in cement and concrete technology.”

The company indicated that it would, in the absence of the C&CI, use its expertise and competences to provide a technical service for its customers.

“We are especially saddened by the impact that this situation is likely to have on the staff of the C&CI,” Lafarge South Africa CEO Thierry Legrand said.