Displaying items by tag: Energy

US: Monarch Cement and Evergy Energy Solutions plan to build a 20MW solar project in Humboldt, Kansas. The project is scheduled to commence in early 2024, and will serve as a ‘benchmark for integrating renewable energy in business operations,’ according to the partners.

Monarch Cement president Kent Webber said “The board of directors and management of Monarch Cement are extremely excited about this win-win venture, where we are making a giant movement toward achieving our 2050 carbon neutrality goals, being socially responsible and providing a more than significant return on investment to our shareholders." He added "Evergy Energy Solutions has done an incredible job of leading and providing solutions at every obstacle. We couldn't be happier with Evergy Energy Solutions’ performance, professionalism and command of the subject."

India: Ambuja Cements has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Telangana for the construction of a new cement facility in the state. The News Minute has reported that the producer plans to invest US$168m in the project. The MoU is part of an agreement between parent company Adani Group and the state of Telangana covering investments worth US$1.49bn. Other projects include an MoU with Adani Group’s renewables subsidiary Adani Green Energy for the construction of a total of 1350MW of energy storage capacity.

Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement has informed investors via a posting on the Saudi Exchange that it expects its cost of sales to rise by 13%. This is due to an increase in the price of fuels by its supplier Saudi Aramco. The cement producer noted that the waste heat recovery (WHR) system installed at its Najran cement plant has partly reduced the anticipated impacts on costs.

Najran Cement said “The company will work during the coming period to explore ways to reduce the financial impact of this adjustment on the company’s profits and will continue to implement its plans to reduce costs and improve production and operating efficiency. It will also work with government agencies to explore ways to diversify energy sources.”

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos and Atlas Renewable Energy have launched a joint venture to build a 470MW solar power plant in Paracatu, Minas Gerais. Additionally, the parties signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the supply of 100GWh/yr of solar energy for Votorantim Cimentos' cement plants between 2026 and 2041. The moves align with the producer’s aim to achieve 75% renewable energy reliance in its operations.

Iraq: Al-Riyadh Investment Companies Group subsidiary Al-Douh Iraqi Company for Cement Industries plans to expand its Al Douh cement plant’s capacity by 58% to 3Mt/yr. The expansion is part of an upgrade involving the installation of a new kiln, a gas-fired captive power plant and a new waste heat recovery (WHR) plant. The WHR plant will provide 30% of the plant’s energy. The US-based International Finance Corporation (IFC) has loaned Al-Douh Iraqi Company for Cement Industries US$130m on a long-term basis for the project.

The IFC says that it expects the Al Douh cement plant expansion to help boost economic diversification, spur sustainable growth in Iraq and generate 2700 new jobs in Muthanna Governorate.

India: UltraTech Cement has concluded a deal to acquire a 26% stake in renewable energy provider Amplus Ages. ET Infra News has reported the value of the deal as US$5.91m. The parties expect the deal to complete within 180 days of its execution.

The cement producer, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla, said "The acquisition is for the purposes of meeting the company's green energy needs, optimising energy costs and complying with regulatory requirements for captive power consumption."

Zimbabwe: Labenmon Investments and China-based West International Holding have partnered for the construction of the planned US$1bn Magunje cement plant in Mashonaland West. The plant will have an integrated capacity of 900,000t/yr, and additional clinker capacity of 1.8Mt/yr. The Zimbabwe Mail newspaper has reported that it will also be equipped with 100MW captive power plant. Construction of a building materials production complex in neighbouring Karoi will commence in parallel with the Magunje cement plant project. Construction of the Magunje plant will generate 5000 jobs in the local area, according to West International Holding. The partners expect the plant, when operational, to help to close a local supply gap.

Yemen: Pakistan-based Reon Energy has won a contract to build a microgrid equipped with a 13.5MW solar power plant and a 5.59MWh battery energy storage system for Arabian Yemen Cement. The energy storage system will employ Reon Energy’s SPARK Intelligent Energy Management product. The supplier said that the project aims to reduce energy costs by 20% and lower CO₂ emissions from Arabian Yemen Cement’s operations.

Arabian Yemen Cement chief executive officer (CEO) Waheeb Al-Azab said "Our partnership with Reon Energy signifies a monumental stride towards sustainable energy practices, enabling us to harness solar power, significantly reduce our carbon footprint and optimise fuel efficiency in our operations."

Reon Energy CEO Mujtaba Khan said "This collaboration marks a significant step in our commitment to delivering practical, efficient solutions, tailored to industry-specific energy challenges. We look forward to driving positive change in the energy landscape of the cement industry with Arabian Yemen Cement."

India: Adani Group subsidiary Ambuja Cements plans to invest US$722m in renewable energy projects to help decarbonise its cement production. The producer has a renewable power capacity target of 1000MW, through solar and wind projects, by the end of the 2026 financial year. The proposals include a 600MW solar power project and 150MW wind power project in Gujarat, and a 250MW solar power project in Rajasthan. The company also plans to increase its waste heat recovery (WHR) capacity to 397MW by late 2028 from 103MW at present.

Ajay Kapur, the chief executive officer of Adani Group’s cement business, said "This strategic investment reaffirms our steadfast commitment to sustainable practices. We are not just aiming for a substantial increase in green power capacity but setting the stage for a transformative shift in the cement industry. They align not only with our growth trajectory but also with the national objective of decarbonisation and greener future and this helps us become competitive and sustainable."

Adani Group announced in mid-December 2023 that it was committed to investing US$100bn in the decade to the end of 2033 towards transitioning its operations to net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

India: Adani Group says that it will power 60% of its cement production using renewable energy by 2028. In a post on X, the group noted that its Adani Cement business uses fly ash or slag in cement production at 90% of its plants.