Displaying items by tag: Alternative raw materials
NeoCem to build €50m clay calcination plant
27 February 2024France: NeoCem plans to build a €50m clay calcination plant at Saint-Maximin, Picardy. The company recently raised €23m in investments in its Series A funding round. The Le Journal des Enterprises newspaper has reported that the Saint-Maximin plant will enter operation in 2025, and will subsequently grow to 200,000t/yr in capacity. NeoCem aims to employ 100 people by 2030.
Head of industrial deployment Guillaume Luu said “To be used in concrete, limestone must be heated for several hours at 1400°C. Our clay-based binder generates CO2 emissions of 120kg/t, compared to almost 1000kg/t of limestone binder, and our technology can transform all types of clays available. The idea is not to open new quarries, but to give a second life to materials already on the surface." He continued “The up-cycling of clays and their transformation into a low-carbon binder addresses several challenges for the construction sector. On the one hand, the reuse of clay waste, and on the other hand, the decarbonisation of the building materials sector.”
Ecocem to showcase Advanced Cement Technology at Buildings and Climate Global Forum
27 February 2024Ireland/France: Ecocem will showcase its Advanced Cement Technology (ACT) at the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris on 7-8 March 2024. The French Government and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will host the event, supported by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC). It aims to advance the climate outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in 2023. Ecocem joins global policy-makers, industry stakeholders and international organisations as the event’s sole international cement technology company exhibitor.
Managing director Donal O'Riain said "The Buildings and Climate Global Forum is happening at a crucial moment for the planet. Urgent and deep decarbonisation of construction materials is essential to achieving the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.” He continued “Ecocem’s ACT low carbon technology can decarbonise the cement sector on a trajectory consistent with 1.5°C of global warming, the first major industry sector to achieve this feat. But we must now mobilise resolutely, rapidly and globally to deploy this technology. The first ambition should be a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from cement by 2030. Technology is no longer the barrier."
Magsort to help decarbonise slag processing at Emirates Steel Arkan's Al Ain Cement plant
20 February 2024UAE: Emirates Steel Arkan has concluded a partnership for the deployment of Finland-based Magsort’s technology in steel slag processing at its Al Ain cement plant. ZAWYA News has reported that the partners expect the technology to help reduce the plant’s limestone and fuel consumption. This will reduce its CO2 emissions by 15%.
Emirates Steel Arkan CEO Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said "Green solutions such as this will help decarbonise the sector's value chain."
Lafarge Canada producing 100% Portland limestone cement at St-Constant cement plant
19 February 2024Canada: Lafarge Canada has transitioned its St-Constant, Quebec, cement plant to the production of OneCem Portland limestone cement (PLC). The producer expects the transition to reduce the St-Constant cement plant’s CO2 emissions by 60,000t in 2024 alone.
Lafarge Canada (East) president and CEO David Redfern said "We are excited to take another crucial step in our sustainability journey. The transition to OneCem production at our St-Constant plant indicates Lafarge Canada's nonstop commitment to driving positive change within our construction industry. Our teams have been engaged in reducing our products’ environmental impact by embracing greener practices and materials."
US: The Department of Transportation has announced a US$5m initiative to investigate the use of steel slag in cement and concrete. This will take the form of a collaboration between the Department of Transportation and a selected US-based steel producer and university partner. The initiative seeks to reduce CO2 emissions in the production of building materials. Prospective participants may view the grant opportunity here.
Transport secretary Pete Buttigieg said "We're proud to make this funding available to help develop the next generation of construction materials so that the future of our transport infrastructure is more resilient, more sustainable and made in America.”
Robert Hampshire, deputy assistant secretary for research and technology and chief science officer, said “This funding initiative will develop and advance innovative materials and technologies that support the nation’s goals to decarbonise the transportation sector by 2050, strengthen resilience of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, and address adverse environmental impacts created by the transportation system.”
Titan Cement International buys Vezirhan pozzolana quarry
30 January 2024Türkiye: Titan Cement International (TCI) has acquired concession rights to the Vezirhan pozzolana quarry in East Marmara. The quarry will help TCI to expand its low-carbon cement production capacity. By 2030, the company aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 35% from 1990 levels, and include 50% green products in its portfolio.
Titan Group Eastern Mediterranean regional director Christos Panagopoulos said “Access to Vezirhan quarry’s strong reserves potential and high-quality material will allow Titan to further broaden the portfolio of low-carbon cementitious products available to its customers. The quarry has access to a deep port and railway transport, facilitating both land and seaborne distribution across Titan's global locations.”
Group chief sustainability and innovation officer Leonidas Canellopoulos said “Being future-ready for a net zero world is more than just an ambition for Titan, and the acquisition of concession rights in Vezirhan is part of our solid roadmap that entails over 100 initiatives, covering the entire scope of our geographic operations and span of our value chain.”
Cementos Portland Valderrivas' Alcalá de Guadaíra cement plant to raise alternative raw materials and alternative fuels use
30 January 2024Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas' Alcalá de Guadaíra plant has secured environmental clearance to use more alternative raw materials and alternative fuels (AF) in its cement production.
The company said "This achievement is a further boost to our sustainable work practices, respecting the environment and contributing to combatting climate change."
TopWerk Group endorses Partanna Global's carbon-negative binder
23 January 2024Germany/US: Concrete production equipment supplier TopWerk Group has formally endorsed Partanna Global's carbon-negative binder as a replacement for cement in the production of concrete using its equipment. Partanna plans to install TopWerk equipment at its four upcoming production plants, under an exclusive three-year agreement. The endorsement is intended to help shift TopWerk's global customers from using cement to using Partanna Global’s binder.
Partanna Global CEO Rick Fox said “TopWerk's endorsement of Partanna represents a major vote of confidence in our technology from one of the most respected names in global construction. We’re humbled and proud that one of the world’s leading concrete machinery producers has given us their backing. We hope this signals to the industry that Portland cement is no longer the only solution in town, and that the days of burning rocks are fast coming to an end.”
TopWerk CEO Robert Gruss said "We believe our exclusive partner Partanna has come up with a truly impressive solution that can contribute to putting this polluting practice to an end. The company’s carbon negative binder is one of the most exciting innovations we have witnessed in our industry for decades. It is the most advanced alternative binder solution in the market and the only credibly carbon negative solution that has the potential to scale globally. Over the last two years, we have rigorously tested their formula and have validated its application as a direct replacement solution for Portland cement. In many ways, their binder actually performs better than the legacy solution.”
The endorsement follows Saudi Arabia-based property developer ROSHN's announcement of an upcoming carbon-negative concrete plant that will use Partanna Global's technology earlier in January 2024.
Nepal Cement Manufacturers Association signs memorandum of understanding for limestone calcined clay cement technology
23 January 2024Nepal: The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Mines and Geology and non-governmental organisation Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) for the adoption of limestone calcined clay (LC3) cement in Nepal. The parties say that LC3 cement can reduce CO2 emissions by 40% and reduce coal consumption in cement production. Enewspolar News has reported that the Swiss Development Cooperation has previously supported the diffusion of the technology in the global cement sector.
Adani Group to establish cement plant in Santhal Pargana
22 January 2024India: Adani Group has announced plans to build a new cement plant, possibly at Godda, in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana Division. The Times of India newspaper has reported that producer recently established a 1.6GW power plant in Godda.
The group said “In keeping with our group’s expansion plans, we are conducting a feasibility study to set up a cement factory, most probably in Godda. A proposal will be sent to government soon. The proposed plant will further boost the economy of Godda and Santhal Pargana. The proposed plant will utilise fly ash from our existing power plant here as raw material. At present, the fly ash is being sent to the ACC cement plants in Jhikpani and Sindri.”