September 2024
Adbri orders new limestone carrier 20 December 2023
Australia: Adbri has entered into an agreement to obtain a new limestone carrier for its South Australian cement operations, to replace its MV Accolade II vessel currently in operation there. Specifically, the new carrier will supply raw materials for the Birkenhead cement plant. It is 100% battery electric capable. Adbri has hired marine transport company CSL to supply and operate the vessel. The contract will last until 2043, with the option for two five-year extensions.
Adbri chief executive officer Mark Irwin said “The new vessel will support Adbri to increase cement volumes at Birkenhead, while also supporting the production of lower carbon products such as EvoCem cement, which uses limestone as a clinker substitute.” He continued “The new vessel is expected to start operations with a hybrid system, where electric power will replace about 25% of its diesel fuel. This is expected to reduce Scope 1 emissions by about 40% compared to the current emission intensity seen in the Accolade II operation. By 2031, we aim to achieve 100% electric power capability, further reducing Scope 1 emissions to less than 10% of the current emission intensity seen in the Accolade II operation. This milestone is a crucial step forward in our on-going net zero emission journey.”
Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies and the Scientific and Technical Centre for Building extend strategic partnership 20 December 2023
France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies and the Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB) have extended their current strategic partnership for a further three years. The partners plan to assess current and future technologies, in particular with regard to clay-based cement technologies, such as Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies’ H-EVA and H-P2A cement products.
Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "We are convinced that our extended partnership and shared planning will keep on providing us with optimised timeframes for certifying our promising future clay-based technologies, such as H-EVA and H-P2A. We look forward to bringing these new technologies to market, as they, like our current technologies, benefit from very strong interest."
Cemex Ventures raises stake in HiiROC 20 December 2023
UK: Cemex’s corporate venture capital and open innovation unit Cemex Ventures has increased its stake in green hydrogen production technology developer HiiROC. Cemex Ventures described hydrogen as a ‘breakthrough approach’ to CO2 reduction in the cement sector.
Head of Cemex Ventures Gonzalo Galindo said "This news comes at a critical moment, when COP28 has brought the world together to address and refocus the climate agenda and buckle down on the responsibility of governments and private corporations to deliver on their decarbonisation objectives ahead of 2030. With our increased investment in HiiROC, we are especially proud to be number one in the use of hydrogen in the cement sector and are committed to keep scouting new ways to deploy hydrogen at a grand scale at Cemex’s 60 cement and grinding plants.”
Heidelberg Materials Canada incurs US$142,000 fine for injury to contractors at Picton cement plant 20 December 2023
Canada: A provincial offences court has fined Heidelberg Materials Canada US$142,000 for ‘failing to take every precaution reasonable in circumstances under which three contractors were injured at its Picton cement plant. The workers were reportedly injured in a flash fire while replacing the plant’s jet air blower, after company engineers mistakenly overrode digital signals on both open valves between the gas supply and the area where the repair was taking place.
Greece: The EU Innovation Fund has awarded a Euro234m grant to Titan Group for its IFESTOS carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Titan Group said that the project, the largest initiative of its kind in Europe, marks a ‘monumental leap forward’ in its decarbonisation journey. The company hopes that the project will help to promote the deployment of carbon capture technology in Greece and beyond.
IFESTOS director and project leader Aris Tsikouras said “This agreement solidifies our group’s role as leaders in driving transformative change in industrial decarbonisation across Europe. IFESTOS encapsulates our commitment to sustainability and innovation, forging a path toward a cleaner, greener and more resilient future for the industry, in line with EU climate policy.”
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne recognised as Energy Transition Changemaker for LC3 limestone calcined clay cement project 19 December 2023
Switzerland/UAE: The COP28 UAE Presidency named École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) among its Energy Transition Changemakers in the Heavy Emitting Sectors category. EPFL won the prize for its LC3 limestone calcined clay cement, which replaces 50% of clinker content with calcined kaolinite clay and limestone. LC3 cement reduces CO2 emissions by 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), and is a readily available solution that can be scaled worldwide. EPFL noted the special importance of LC3 cement for CO2 reduction efforts in developing countries, and sees it as having the potential to eliminate 500Mt/yr of global CO2 emissions by 2030. In a post to LinkedIn, the LC3 Project said that nine plants around the world currently produce LC3 cement, with a further 20 planned before 2025.
Hume Cement Industries issues medium-term notes 19 December 2023
Malaysia: Hume Cement Industries has issued medium-term notes worth US$21.4m, which it said were fully redeemed on 18 December 2023. InPR News has reported that the issuance is the first part of a US$107m programme.
Holcim Azerbaijan to build cement terminal in Jabrayil in 2024 19 December 2023
Azerbaijan: Holcim Azerbaijan plans to build a 2000t-capacity cement terminal in the Araz Valley Economic Zone in Jabrayil. AzerNews has reported that Holcim Azerbaijan will build the terminal in phases, commencing in 2024. The producer’s offering in the local market includes its ECOPlanet Inshaatchi and ECOPlanet Optimal reduced-CO2 cements. In a later phase, it will install a dry adhesive and ready-mix concrete batching plant at the facility. Planned investments at the site total US$2m.
Commercial director Sergiu Stoicov said "We aim to bring new methods to help the construction industry build sustainably. Through Inshaatchi and Optimal, we are taking a step in the race for CO2 reduction and the use of alternative raw materials. Holcim Azerbaijan is the first company in the Caucasus to offer green cement.”
Azerbaijan produced 3.42Mt of cement throughout the first 11 months of 2023. This represents a 4.1% year-on-year rise from 11-month 2022 levels. Meanwhile, clinker production rose by 10% year-on-year to 3.51Mt.
Mineral Products Association welcomes UK cement carbon border adjustment mechanism plan 19 December 2023
UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed government plans for the implementation of a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism for cement by 2027. The association urged the government to develop policy and business models for carbon capture, use and storage, including supporting a domestic carbon neutral and negative products sector.
MPA executive director for energy and climate change Diana Casey said “We cannot take our supply of cement for granted and neither can we put ourselves at risk of unstable international trading markets. That is why today’s commitment to a UK CBAM is so important. Levelling the carbon cost between domestic production and imports will help the UK attract the investment required to decarbonise and ensure our long-term security of supply. The Government’s commitment to bring in the UK CBAM by 2027 is very welcome, and ideally it should be introduced in 2026 to align with the EU scheme. This is the only way to prevent any detrimental impact of the EU CBAM on UK industry.” She added “As well as a CBAM on cement, the MPA would be interested in exploring a CBAM on lime. However, the challenge for the lime sector is ensuring that lime exports can compete in international markets.”
CRH to acquire majority stake in Adbri 18 December 2023
Australia: Ireland-based CRH and Barro Group have partnered to jointly acquire Adbri outright. The companies currently control 47.6% of Adbri combined – a 4.6% stake under CRH and a 43% stake under Barro Group. Under their offer to shareholders, CRH will raise its stake in the company to 57%. The partners have valued the company at US$1.4bn as part of their proposal. Following the conclusion of any such deal, the companies reportedly plan to delist Adbri from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
CRH chief executive officer Albert Manifold said "Adbri is an attractive business with quality assets that complement our core competencies in cement, concrete and aggregates. With its leading market positions in Australia, we are delighted that this opportunity has presented itself to us.” He added “It is the next logical step for CRH to expand our existing presence in Australia, where we have been operating for 15 years. We look forward to working with the Barro family over the coming years to enhance the long-term performance of the business, leveraging our scale, industry knowledge and technical expertise to improve long-term growth and operating performance and drive value to achieve the true potential of the business.”