Sweden: UK-based Samson Materials Handling is supplying an Eco Hopper product for installation at the Port of Slite in Gotland. The hopper will be designed to receive clinker, limestone, coal and refuse-derived (RDF) fuel pellets. These materials will be unloaded at the quay area via crane grabs. The hopper will then discharge direct to trucks via a telescopic chute.

The Eco Hopper installation under normal operating conditions and based on the client’s grab sizes and cycle time, will achieve peak discharging rates of: 353t/hr - based on clinker with a bulk density of 1.4 t/m³; 454t/hr - based on limestone with a bulk material density range of 1.8 t/m³; and 420t/hr - based on RDF Pellets with a bulk material density of 0.6 t/m³.

The Eco Hopper product design concept comprises of a specialised reception hopper unit incorporating Integral filter arrangement with a reverse jet filter media cleaning system which returns all material back in to the material stream. In addition, the inlet system of the hopper is based on the Samson Flex-Flap design which reduces the volume of air necessary to control dust both from the opening grab and displaced air from material falling into the inner hopper below. This contributes to the reduction of airflow reducing filter and power requirements of the equipment.

Commissioning and operator training will be provided by Aumund Group Field Services.

Germany: Holcim Deutschland says that the preliminary test phase of a new CO₂ separation unit at its Höver cement plant in Lower Saxony has delivered positive results. Plant manager Stephan Hinrichs said that the company was “delighted” with the results so far. In late 2021 Cool Planet Technologies and Hereon signed a memorandum of understanding with Holcim Deutschland to deliver a carbon capture system for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) trial at the plant based on Hereon’s PolyActive membrane technology.

The next stage of the project will start in August 2022 and it will last until late 2024. This will include a one-year active test phase, in which the system is to be examined in long-term operation, planned to start in September 2023. If the results are good enough then the carbon capture unit will be expanded step-by-step so that after the final expansion stage it can separate around 90% of the CO₂ emissions and deliver high-purity CO₂ in liquid form for sequestration or further use. The ultimate aim of the project is to demonstrate performance, economy and operational behaviour on a larger scale in order to check whether the technology can be used at both Höver and other cement plants. Continued funding for the scheme is dependent on an application to the Competence Centre on Climate Change Mitigation in Energy-Intensive Industries (KEI) as part of the Decarbonisation in Industry program.

France: Lhoist and Air Liquide have signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim to build a carbon capture unit at Lhoist’s Réty lime plant in Hauts-de-France. Air Liquide wants to build and operate a unit from 2028 using its Cryocap FG (Flue Gas) technology to capture and purify 95% of the lime plant’s CO₂ emissions. The companies have jointly applied for the European Innovation Fund large scale support scheme to pay for the project. This partnership is a step towards the creation of a low-carbon industrial ecosystem in the Dunkirk area.

Lhoist’s ‘Chaux et Dolomies du Boulonnais’ plant in Réty is France’s largest lime production plant. A potential carbon capture unit at the plant could potentially reduce the CO₂ emissions of the plant by more than 600,000t/yr. Captured CO₂ would then be transported to a multimodal CO₂ export hub in Dunkirk, currently under development, and sent to be sequestered in the North Sea as part of the D’Artagnan project, which has received the PCI (Project of Common Interest) label from the European Commission. The implementation of the project will be possible as public funding from European and/or French schemes supporting decarbonisation become available.

Mexico: Cemex has expanded its Executive Variable Compensation program, which includes progress on its carbon reduction goals as a variable, to cover over 4500 executives. The initiative is part of the company's Future in Action program, which focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of Cemex's operations and products to become a net-zero CO2 company by 2050. From the start of 2022, the CO₂ emissions component will have an impact that will range from -10% to +10% in the total cash payout of the annual executive variable compensation.

Colombia: Cementos Argos recorded sales of US$642m in the first quarter of 2022, up by 11% year-on-year from first-quarter 2021. The company’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 18% year-on-year to US$88.6m. Cement volumes remained level year-on-year at 3.9Mt. Cementos Argos said that higher inflationary pressures impacted costs associated with raw materials, energy, freight and maintenance, but noted its ‘very good price performance’ across all of its regions. It expects the rise in cement prices to a contribute to a reduction in inflationary cost impacts in the rest of 2022.

CEO Juan Esteban Calle said "Demand for our products and solutions remains very healthy and dynamic in all regions. We are operating at full capacity, despite a challenging environment due to global supply chain disruptions and inflation in energetics and raw material costs. In this environment, we are focused on maximising production at our integrated cement plants to meet our customers' growing needs and on executing a pricing strategy that mitigates the impact of inflation.”

Argentina: Loma Negra’s first-quarter sales were US$171m in 2022, up by 20% year-on-year from US$143m in the first quarter of 2021. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were US$60m, up by 14% from US$52m, while its net profit was US$41m, up by 11% from US$37m. The producer’s cement, masonry and lime sales volumes rose by 6.6% in the quarter to 1.48Mt from 1.38Mt.

World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has named its first six startups to receive backing under the inaugural Innovandi Open Challenge. The startups have partnered with GCCA members to help increase cement’s sustainability towards achieving net zero CO₂ concrete production by 2050. This will lead to the formation of six consortia to further test, develop and deploy their new technologies.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) startups CarbonOrO, MOF Technologies and Saipem, all based in Europe, are among the participants. GCCA members are currently involved in dozens of pilot projects and aim to have 10 industrial-scale carbon capture plants installed by 2030. Other startups Carbon Upcycling Technologies and Fortera, from Canada and the US respectively, use captured CO₂ to produce low-carbon cement and cementitious materials, while UK-based Coomtech has developed a low-cost drying technology using turbulent air.

GCCA CEO Thomas Guillot said “It’s a proud moment to see the industry coming together to support such innovative start-ups on their journey. Our member companies were greatly impressed by their ambition to be a key part of the climate solution. The programme is another big step forward towards unlocking innovation to help us achieve our net zero goal.” He continued “As the need for resilient and sustainable communities to support a growing global population becomes more pressing , cement and concrete will be essential to providing the infrastructure and buildings that society needs. Achieving net zero concrete relies on a number of different groups playing their part, and as an industry we’re looking outwards as well as inwards, to see how start-ups like these can support our goals.”

Uzbekistan: Kyrgyzstan-based Kant Cement has announced plans to open a sales office in Uzbekistan. Kant Cement is a subsidiary of United Cement Group and operates the Kant and AC cement plant in Kyrgyzstan’s Chüy Region.

Thailand: Siam City Cement recorded consolidated sales of US$363m in the first quarter of 2022, up by 21% year-on-year from first-quarter 2021 levels. The group’s net profit fell by 25% to US$23.2m from US$30.7m.

Denmark: GE Renewable Energy has invested in a minority stake in COBOD International. The companies said that the investment will build on their existing relationship since 2019. GE Renewable Energy chose COBOD International as the global market leader in 3D printing technology, which experienced double-digit growth in 2020.

GE Renewable Energy advanced manufacturing technology leader Matteo Bellucci said “This agreement, which will further strengthen our ability to use COBOD’s 3D printing technology and competences in the renewable energy space, is another sign of our commitment to help drive the energy transition by investing in technology that promotes a more sustainable, circular design strategy and helps to create local jobs.” He continued “Since we started cooperating with COBOD, the company has continued to improve their technical competence and innovative solutions, reinforcing the benefits of solidifying the relationship between our companies.”