September 2024
Cemex Deutschland partners with Enertrag and Sunfire for CO2-to-fuel project at Rüdersdorf cement plant 16 July 2021
Germany: A consortium of Mexico-based Cemex subsidiary Cemex Deutschland, Uckerwerk Energietechnik subsidiary Enertrag and hydrogen specialist Sunfire has announced a cement industry decarbonisation project called Concrete Chemicals. The project will see sequestered CO2 combined with hydrogen to produce hydrocarbons for use as cement fuel. The consortium has submitted a funding application to the German Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety for a trial at Cemex’s Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg, cement plant. This would help in the realisation of the plant’s 2030 carbon neutrality target. Alongside a 5000t/yr demonstration plant, the site will have a green hydrogen plant, supplied by Sunfire. When commissioned in 2025, the plant will produce synthetic fuels and other hydrocarbon fractions. The consortium is also investigating a methanol synthesis route using synthetic gas.
Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “We support the urgency of action to address the climate challenge and have committed to a 55% reduction in CO2 from our 1990 baseline in our European operations by 2030. Together with our industry partners, we can collectively transform ourselves into a CO2-neutral world. Concrete Chemicals is a promising project.”
Greece: Titan Cement has received the validation of the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its CO2 emissions reduction targets. The validation confirms that the company’s targets are in line with a well-below 2°climate change scenario.
The group aims to reduce Scope 1 emissions per tonne of cementitious product by 21% by 2030 from 2020, and to reduce Scope 2 emissions by 42% within the same parameters. Additionally, it has committed to drive down the CO₂ footprint of its operations and products with the aim of delivering 100% carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. Methods include increasing the use of alternative fuels, accelerating efficiency-improving initiatives, developing low-carbon products, and adopting innovative technologies and solutions. The company says that it will also monitor and independently verify its supply chain emissions.
It said “Through the participation in European and international consortia, as well as through collaborations in research and development, Titan Group will continue to develop low-carbon cementitious products and pilot carbon capture technologies in its plants, actively contributing to the industry’s ambition for a carbon-neutral future.”
Seven Group takes control of Boral 16 July 2021
Australia: Seven Group has increased its stake in Boral to 52% via a 3% equity swap with Macquarie. the company now has effective control of the building materials producer although it assured Boral that it would retain a majority of independent directors, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. However, Boral has continued to urge its shareholders to resist the ongoing offer by Seven Group to buy their shares. The takeover bid has been valued at around US$6.5bn. Boral is currently in the process of selling its US fly ash business.
Progressive Planet and ZS2 sign letter of intent for green cement technologies collaboration 16 July 2021
Canada: Progressive Planet and sustainable construction company ZS2 have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on green cement technologies development. The pozzolan-based cement producer will supply ZS2 with 10,000t/yr of natural pozzolan, beginning in late 2021. It will also purchase US$300,000-worth of shares in ZS2. The companies will also explore sequestering CO2 in magnesium-based cements.
ZS2 chief executive officer Scott Jenkins said "The technical collaboration between PLAN and ZS2 continues to grow. The potential to reduce the carbon footprint of innovative cement products is significant with the combination of our mutual research and commercialisation to date. ZS2's growing portfolio of high performance, fire-resistant and sustainable building technologies will be greatly enhanced by our expanding partnership, and we are extremely excited about our shared future potential."
SigmaRoc acquires Nordkalk 16 July 2021
Finland: UK-based minerals group SigmaRoc has acquired Nordkalk for Euro500m. The group says that Nordkalk, SigmaRoc’s sixth platform, adds a core limestone business from more than 30 locations across 10 European countries. Circular economy products comprise 13% of Nordkalk’s sales volumes. It currently makes careful use of by-products and SigmaRoc says it has a clear ambition towards fossil-free and carbon neutral operations in the future.
SigmaRoc Chair David Barrett said “Nordkalk is a well-established and well-respected business with a substantial asset footprint spanning Northern Europe. It has a long history of success and much future potential. This acquisition creates a raft of new opportunities for SigmaRoc to capitalise on in the months and years ahead.”
Chief executive officer Max Vermorken said “The acquisition of Nordkalk, Northern Europe’s leading limestone products company, is a great stepping stone in the evolution of our group, expanding our footprint across Northern European markets. We are purchasing a high-quality business at the right point in the cycle and at an attractive valuation. Nordkalk meets all our stringent investment criteria as a self-contained and asset-backed business which will bring the Group significant earnings growth. We look forward to helping Nordkalk and its experienced management team on its path to continued success as we perpetuate its 120-year history, name and success.”
Cemex set to build new Tigres football club stadium 16 July 2021
Mexico: Cemex is set to begin construction of a planned US$250m new stadium for its football team Tigres UANL in Monterrey, Nuevo León. The Récord newspaper has reported that the stadium, on the grounds of the Nuevo León Autonomous University, may host some North America 2026 World Cup fixtures.
Philippines: Holcim Philippines plans to invest US$4.18m in upgrades to its cement plants at La Union, Bacnotan, and Lugait, Misamis Oriental to improve business and sustainability performance.
The subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim held a ceremonial signing ceremony on 7 July 2021 to award the contract to Sinoma CBMIPH Construction to install a drying facility at the La Union plant. The project is intended to reduce the fuel consumption of the unit by reusing hot gases from operations to dry materials. The integrated plant was recently awarded an ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety Management System and recertified for ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) by certification body TÜV Rheinland. Holcim Philippines has also contracted Sinoma CBMIPH to install a drying facility at its Lugait plant that will reduce moisture of raw materials to improve grinding operations. The La Union and Lugait projects are scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2022 and by the end of October 2021 respectively.
In January 2021, Holcim Philippines also started projects worth US$2.42m to raise the efficiency of converting qualified waste materials to alternative fuels of its cement plant in Bulacan, Norzagaray. These will enable its Geocycle subsidiary to support the Bulacan plant to increase its thermal substitution rate by using more post-consumer and municipal solid wastes as alternative fuels.
South Korea: Korea Cement Association (KCA) members have agreed to reduce their net CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. To help them achieve this target, the state-owned Korea Development Bank has pledged US876m in investments in emissions reduction and green production upgrades by 2025, according to the Maeil Business Newspaper. The KCA says that 90% of local cement producers have increased their environmental, social and corporate governance investment and reduced their use of coal.
Competition Commission of India approves Synergy Metals Investments Holding’s JSW Cement stake acquisition 15 July 2021
India: Synergy Metals Investments Holding has received the Competition Commission of India’s approval via the accelerated ‘green channel notice’ to acquire a minority stake in JSW Cement. The Press Trust of India has reported that the accelerated procedure aims to improve merger regulation through transparent review with a minimal waiting period.
Vicat confirms interest in Egyptian cement market 15 July 2021
Egypt: Tamer Magdy, the country manager for Sinai Cement, says that parent company Vicat is keen to continuing to invest in the local market. He noted that noted that the France-based building materials producer is a long-term investor with confidence in the Egyptian economy and that it has no plans to leave, according to the Daily News Egypt newspaper.
He praised the government’s decision in early July 2021 to introduce reduced cement production quotas. The group is also keen for the authorities to develop the Sinai region more, where its main market is based. Vicat has operated in Egypt since 2003 when it acquired Sinai Cement. However, Magdy also called on the government to provide subsidies for exports.