Displaying items by tag: Saskatchewan

Thailand: The Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Saskatchewan in Canada, represented by the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, to strengthen cooperation in sustainable industrial development and decarbonisation. The agreement focuses on energy transition and advanced carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies, with potential pilot projects to be explored under the Saraburi Sandbox project. A joint working group will be established to drive implementation and progress will be reviewed annually.

Nopadol Ramyarupa, vice chair and acting chair of TCMA, said “This collaboration aims to accelerate the Thai cement industry’s progress toward achieving the Net Zero 2050 goal by facilitating collaboration on technological advancements on green energy transition and CCUS technologies. Furthermore, if a pilot project can be established in Saraburi Sandbox, it would be beneficial in supporting Thailand’s green economy. It could serve as a role model on industry decarbonisation and inspire the regional and beyond.”

Warren Kaeding, Minister of Trade and Export Development, Saskatchewan, said “This partnership demonstrates how Saskatchewan’s expertise in clean energy and innovation is creating global opportunities. The collaboration with TCMA provides not only an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with Thailand and ASEAN but also reinforces Canada–Thailand relations in advancing greenhouse gas reduction, a critical global agenda, alongside expanding trade and investment opportunities between our countries.”

Canada: Lehigh Hanson has launched of EcoCem Plus at its Edmonton cement plant in Alberta. The product is a blended Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) made using inter-grinding clinker, fly ash, limestone and gypsum. It is available in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The subsidiary of Germany-based HeildebergCement says it provides strength and durability while reducing the carbon footprint of concrete.

“The motivation behind the EcoCem brand of products is to reduce the embodied carbon of cement and concrete,” said Shawn McMillan, Vice President, Cement for Lehigh Hanson’s Canada Region. “The introduction of EcoCem Plus to the Prairie market builds on our commitment to providing environmentally responsible types of cement that deliver excellent performance while dramatically reducing CO2 emissions.”

Lehigh Cement has also published product and plant-specific environmental product declarations (EPD) for all of its cement products produced at its Edmonton plant.

Canada: Tina Larson has been appointed as Vice President, Saskatchewan and Manitoba by Lafarge Canada. She first joined Lafarge in 2010 as General Manager, Pipe in the Greater Calgary Area following a 16-year career with Weyerhaeuser Canada where she held various management positions. In 2015, Tina was promoted to the country level role of Director, Health and Safety for Western Canada. Larson holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta.

Canada: The government has made a proposed new carbon tax easier for large-scale industrial emitters such as cement and steel producers. Originally the new legislation proposed imposing a levy on around 30% of a company’s CO₂ emissions from the start of 2018, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper. However, the revision has reduced the tax on so-called vulnerable industries with the cement and steel sectors only having to pay 10%. The levy will start at US$15/t in January 2018, rising to around US$40/t in 2022.

The decision to soften the carbon tax follows lobbying by the affected industries. The tax applies to provinces that do not have existing carbon emission controls, such as cap-and-trade schemes, that meets the central government’s standards. The provincial government of Ontario, which contains six of the country’s 17 integrated cement plants, recently decided to leave its own carbon pricing system. It will be subject to the new rules. Saskatchewan will also be affected.