10 March 2023

Italy: Cementir Holding recorded 'record' revenues of Euro1.72bn in 2022, up by 27% year-on-year from 2021 levels. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7.8% to Euro335m, also a record figure, according to the group. Throughout 2022, Cementir Holding sold 10.8Mt of cement and clinker, down by 2.8% from 11.2Mt. It attributed this to a 'general slowdown of the market,' mainly in Türkiye, Denmark, China and Belgium, especially during the second half of the year.

Chair and CEO Francesco Caltagirone noted the 'solidity and resilience' of Cementir's business model, even in spite of 'geopolitical uncertainty and more restrictive monetary conditions.' He said "We have already achieved significant results in terms of decarbonisation, innovation and transparency, evidenced by the improvement of all environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and we want to continue on this virtuous path, in the interest of all stakeholders."

Canada/UAE: Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) producer Carbon Upcycling Technologies has signed a strategic partnership agreement with technical consultancy A³&Co. The partners will now work towards the delivery of an SCM enhancement reactor that bolts on to existing cement plant equipment. Canada-based Carbon Upcycling Technologies expects to be able to offer the technology to global cement industry customers by March 2025.

Carbon Upcycling Technologies CEO Apoorv Sinha said "We look forward to collaborating with A³&Co. Their extensive experience working with over 125 facilities across the globe will prove invaluable as we continue to adapt our technology for seamless integration at cement plants, enabling onsite sequestration and utilisation of CO₂."

El Salvador: Holcim El Salvador says that the upcoming solar power plant at its El Rondo cement plant will have a capacity of 21.4MW, across three separate installations. Energy provider AES El Salvador holds a 20-year power supply agreement for construction and operation of the plant. The La Prensa Grafica newspaper has reported that Banco Cuscatlán supplied a loan for the project. When operational, the new solar power plant will lower Holcim El Salvador's oil consumption by 43,000 barrels/yr.

Holcim El Salvador CEO Rodrigo Gallardo said "We are not only making solutions and products with a lower CO₂ content, but also cutting CO₂ in our production processes."

Canada: A court has fined Lafarge Canada US$145,000 for a dust spill from its Bath, Ontario, cement plant in October 2019 that 'covered' homes, gardens and cars. The court found that the emission 'caused or was likely to cause adverse effects.' The Belleville Intelligencer newspaper has reported that the Canadian Ministry of Environment previously concluded that no harm to health resulted from the incident.

Plant manager Ignacio Arroyo said "Myself and our plant team unreservedly apologise for the upset and concern that our dust release has caused all of you. We intend to make it right and make sure it never happens again."

Mexico: The National Cement Chamber (CANACEM) has established a collaboration agreement with the State Congress of Jalisco. Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate towards the reduction of CO₂ emissions from the cement sector in the state. Local press has reported that the collaboration will include studies, projects, proposals and legal initiatives.

The state government said that the cement sector drives economic development and supports 20,000 jobs through its vital part in the construction industry.

Egypt: Researchers at the University of Cairo have used nanomaterials from agricultural wastes to produce biocement with 'increased strength and durability' compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The study employed microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) with the addition of carbon nitride nanosheets and ash from waste maize cobs. Besides its improved physical performance, the researchers also found that their biocement offers improved endurance against water permeability.