September 2024
DOE provides funding to Solar MEAD project 17 February 2023
US: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded US$3.2m to Solar MEAD, a project that aims to replace fossil fuels with concentrated solar thermal (CST) energy in clinker production. Solar MEAD is jointly led by Cemex, Swiss solar fuels innovator Synhelion and Sandia National Laboratories, a research and development laboratory run by the DOE.
Synhelion’s CST technology generates hot gas at 1500°C, high enough to produce clinker without any thermal fuels. Cemex and Synhelion produced a batch of clinker with CST in a research setting in Spain in 2022. In the Solar MEAD project, Sandia National Laboratories will contribute its research facilities in New Mexico and subject expertise to help accelerate the adaptation of the technology for use in cement manufacturing. The projects aims are to increase the efficiency of CST technology by improving heat transfer from the hot gas to the cement raw mix and further reduce the CO2 emissions of the process.
GICA exports 3Mt of cement in 2022 17 February 2023
Algeria: The GICA group exported a total of 3Mt of cement in 2022 for a total income of US$106m. Destinations included countries in West Africa, Latin America and Europe. The group is working, through its various subsidiaries, to increase its cement exports as part of the government's strategy aimed at diversifying non-hydrocarbon exports.
As part of this, its SCIMAT subsidiary recently obtained ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 certificates relating to health and safety and energy management standards to help it increase exports to the EU and US.
Votorantim signs second renewable power contract in Spain 17 February 2023
Spain: Brazilian cement producer Votorantim Cimentos has reached an agreement with Spanish renewable energy Acciona Energia to purchase a further 19% of the electricity it will need for its cement production activities in Spain until 2033. Alongside a previous contract for 6% of its electricity needs, from 2024 to 2033, this brings the proportion of renewable energy supplied by Acciona Energia to 25% of Votorantim Cimentos’ needs from the start of 2024.
Hercules CCUS project officially launched 17 February 2023
Greece/Italy: The Hercules international research project, which has 27 partners from 10 countries, has been launched officially at Milan Polytechnic, Italy. Hercules, an acronym for ‘Heroes in Southern Europe to decarbonise industry with CCUS’ will test new solutions in the CO2 capture, transport, use and storage value chain and transform them into a scalable industrial process. Buzzi Unicem and Titan Group are two of the 27 partners, alongside waste-to-energy players and developers of advanced CO2 capture equipment. This includes ‘calcium looping’ technology from Finnish Sumitomo SHI FW and cryogenic purification technology from TPI in Italy.
A part of the pure CO2 flow will be destined for use in production processes. These include the production of new cementitious materials that could replace conventional concrete, as well as uses in the technical gas sector. Hercules will also investigate the transport of CO2 from the industrial capture sites to geological storage sites at Ravenna (Eni) and Prinos (Energean). The gas will be handled by Air Liquide and Titan Cement.
Holcim continues diversification into light building materials with FDT acquisition 16 February 2023
Germany: Holcim has signed an agreement to acquire FDT Flachdach Technologie (FDT), a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic roofs. FDT has a presence in European markets, with net sales of Euro50m in 2022. Holcim says that, as a technology and sustainability leader in its sector, FDT will complement Holcim’s integrated roofing product range and strengthen the geographical footprint of the business.
With this acquisition, Holcim roofing systems will exceed US$4bn in net sales ahead of schedule. Chief executive officer Jan Jenisch said “By acquiring FDT we are further expanding our Solutions & Products business to become a global leader in roofing systems. Due to its leadership in technology and sustainability, as well as its strong customer relationships, FDT will be a cornerstone of our continued expansion into the most attractive European roofing markets. I am excited to further grow and strengthen FDT’s business and welcome all 180 employees to the Holcim family.”
CCI approves Dalmia’s acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates’ cement and power assets 16 February 2023
India: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved a US$684m deal related to Dalmia Cement’s acquisition of cement, clinker and power plants of Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL).
Dalmia Cement says that the acquisition - which includes 9.4Mt/yr of cement capacity, 6.7Mt/yr of clinker capacity and 280MW of power generation capacity - will allow it to expand its footprint into the central region and transform into a pan-Indian company. More than half of JAL’s cement capacity is in central India. Dalmia Cement anticipates reaching a cement production capacity of 75Mt/yr by the 2027 fiscal year and, due to other expansion plans, 110 - 130Mt/yr by the 2031 fiscal year.
This latest transaction, once approved by the relevant regulators, will see the complete exit of JAL from the cement business.
Adani is preferred bidder for large limestone allocation in Odisha 16 February 2023
India: Ambuja Cements, a subsidiary of Adani Group, has been declared as the 'preferred bidder' for the Uskalvagu limestone block in Odisha. An e-auction was conducted by the state government for the block, situated in Malkangiri district. Adani Group has not disclosed the amount that it bid for the block, but said it covers 547 hectares with estimated limestone resources of about 141Mt.
The company must now obtain the statutory licences and permits related to mining operations to be declared a ‘successful bidder’ and subsequently enter into a ‘Mine Development and Production Agreement (MDPA)’ with Government of Odisha.
Martin Marietta posts low fourth quarter revenue 16 February 2023
US: Martin Marietta Materials posted lower revenue in the fourth quarter of 2022 as a slowdown in the housing market and bad weather in Texas reduced shipments of materials, especially concrete. While the company reported a net income for the fourth quarter of US$184m, a 17% rise year-on-year compared with US$157m in the fourth quarter of 2021, its revenue fell to US$1.48bn from US$1.50bn. This was partly due to a 1.7% fall in building material revenues. Cement shipments fell by 11%, mostly due to wet and cold weather in Texas, though prices rose by 21%. Ready-mixed concrete revenue fell by 35% due to the sale of the company's Colorado and Central Texas ready-mixed concrete business.
Cement sales nudge upwards in Puerto Rico 16 February 2023
Puerto Rico: Cement sales were 46,750t in January 2023, a 3.8% rise year-on-year compared to January 2022. Cement production in the territory came to 31,930t in January 2023, a 58% rise. This means that imports fell to 14,820t, 32% of all cement consumed. In January 2022 there were 24,842t of imports, representing 55% of all cement consumed in Puerto Rico.
Governership candidate pledges to restart Nigeria Cement Factory 16 February 2023
Nigeria: Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor of Ebonyi State, has pledged to revive the Nigeria Cement Factory at Nkalagu if elected in the forthcoming election. Odii said the successive administrations promised to revive the factory but failed to do so. Elections will be held on 11 March 2023.
Odii said, “As a governor, I will make sure the cement factory works, because many have promised to revamp the Nkalagu cement factory, but they failed. They failed because they lack the capacity. They failed because they are not entrepreneurs. I’m going to turn things around in Ebonyi state.”