Displaying items by tag: Sustainability
ACC and Ambuja Cements' Geoclean launch new facilities
20 March 2024India: ACC and Ambuja Cements' Geoclean has launched two new facilities for sustainable waste management. The Ambuja Marwar pre-processing and co-processing facility in Rajasthan can convert 220,000t/yr of refuse into alternative fuel, while the ACC Jamul co-processing facility will process an additional 120,000t/yr.
The Ambuja Marwar facility, in collaboration with the Ambuja Marwar Farmer Producer Organisation, aims to source 50,000t/yr of agricultural waste from local farmers. This initiative will also increase the plant's thermal substitution rate to 15%. Similarly, the ACC Jamul facility will enhance its thermal substitution rate to 10%, reducing CO₂ emissions through the co-processing of waste in the cement kiln.
Heidelberg Materials Italy signs sustainable energy deal
20 March 2024Italy: Heidelberg Materials Italy, formerly Italcementi, has entered into a seven-year supply agreement with Ox2. Under the deal, Ox2 will sell up to 70% of the energy generated at the Stornarella wind farm in Foggia. The farm was developed in partnership with Nuveen Infrastructure.
The Stornarella wind farm will be constructed in 2024. Once operational, it will provide an average of 37 - 51GWh/yr of clean energy from 2025 to 2032. Nuveen Infrastructure has purchased the wind farm, which will feature six turbines with a total installed capacity of 27MW and an estimated output of 73GWh/yr.
Stefano Gallini, CEO of Heidelberg Materials Italy, said "Energy is a fundamental component of our industrial process and represents one of the main levers of decarbonisation for the entire cement sector. The electrical component can also contribute significantly to this purpose, and we have identified reliable partners like Ox2 and Nuveen to accompany us on this journey."
Colombia: Cemex Colombia plans to source 42,900MWh/yr of renewable electricity for its Caracolita cement plant in Colima from Celsia's upcoming 20MW solar power plant in Ibague. Upon the solar plant’s commissioning in 2025, this initiative will account for 25% of the cement plant's electricity needs.
Alejandro Ramirez, president of Cemex Colombia and Peru, said "Supplying our main cement plant in Colombia with solar energy will be a decisive step in our strategy to take advantage of renewable sources for cement production in Colombia."
Ricardo Sierra, CEO of Celsia, said "The company has 17 operational solar power plants totalling more than 300MW of installed capacity in Colombia." He added "Celsia’s target is to reach 1GW of photovoltaic projects under construction and development, some of which will deliver power to the grid, and others will benefit various industrial companies."
Greece: Titan has endorsed the Antwerp Declaration, advocating for an European Union (EU) Industrial Deal complementing the EU Green Deal, to bolster the European economy's sustainable growth and competitiveness. Resulting from a summit in Antwerp, Belgium on 20 February 2024, the declaration has gained support from over 630 businesses across 20 sectors. It highlights the necessity of elevating competitiveness, ensuring a level playing field to counter unfair competition, and prioritising infrastructure development in energy, digital technologies, CCUS, and materials recycling.
France: Representatives from the global cement and concrete industry will meet in Paris on 7- 8 March 2024 for the Global Buildings and Climate Forum. Industry leaders will seek to set out a framework for sustainable, decarbonised buildings.
Global Cement & Concrete Association CEO Thomas Guillot said “Our industry has been leading the way on decarbonisation through the implementation of our 2050 Net Zero Concrete Roadmap, and as our Roadmap sets out we are committed to fully decarbonising this essential material.”
Bruno Pillon, Chair the French cement association France Ciment, said “France and the whole world will still need to rely on cement and concrete for future infrastructure. But it’s really important that the cement and construction sectors, governments and suppliers all work together to achieve our net zero goal.”
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."
Heidelberg Materials grows sales in 2023
22 February 2024Germany: Heidelberg Materials reported sales growth of 0.4% in 2023, to €21.2bn. The group saw its profits grow by 21%, from €1.72bn to €2.09bn. During the year, the company reduced its specific CO2 emissions per tonne of cementitious material by 3% from 551kg to 534kg and lowered its clinker factor from 72% to 70%.
Chair Dominik von Achten said "In the 150th year of our company's history, we have once again shown that we can deal with change and crises. I am extremely proud of our teams around the world, who have remained firmly focused on our targets and have once again done an extraordinary job." He added "We are entering 2024 with optimism. Although the general economic conditions in the construction sector remain challenging, we anticipate growth in revenue and earnings also in the current year. Our shareholders are benefitting from this growth thanks to the progressive dividend and the new, comprehensive share buyback programme.”
Eagle Materials publishes 2023 Sustainability Report
22 February 2024US: Eagle Materials has outlined its climate change mitigation successes in its 2023 Sustainability Report. During 2023, the company increased its production of blended cement products, including Portland Limestone Cement (PLC). It commenced a major CO2 reduction study with the US Department of Energy, and established a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Team to explore new clean technologies. Eagle Materials says that it is currently working to increase the use of alternative fuels at three of its cement plants.
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."