Czech Republic: Holcim has launched a new calcined clay production line in Čížkovice that will enable it to produce 0.58Mt/yr of ECOPlanet low-carbon cement. It said that this cement has around 30% lower CO₂ emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement due to the replacement of clinker with calcined clay. The line is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic and the calcined clay is supplied from Holcim’s nearby quarry. The Čížkovice line cost €42.6m, with €13.8m funded by the country’s Ministry of Environment’s Modernisation Fund.
Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, said "This project is proof that Czech industry can be modern, competitive and environmentally responsible at the same time. This is exactly the kind of investment our country needs. It combines technological innovation, the use of domestic resources and investments in the future."
Xavier Guesnu, Holcim Region Head Central and East Europe, said “The commissioning of this production line is an important step to scale up next generation ECOPlanet low-carbon cement as an innovative solution to meet our customers’ most ambitious goals, as the leading partner for sustainable construction."