Global Cement News

Mexico: Cemex has completed the sale of its operations in Panama to Dominican-Republic based industrial conglomerate Grupo Estrella for an enterprise value of approximately US$200m. The divested assets include a 1.2Mt/yr capacity cement plant in Calzada Larga, Chilibre, along with related ready-mix, aggregates operations, and rights to acquire additional reserves. Cemex has increased its holdings to a majority stake in US-based Couch Aggregates, using a small portion of the Panama sale proceeds to offset the EBITDA impact from the divestment.

“These transactions are important building blocks in our strategy to rebalance our portfolio and continue investing in growth in priority markets,” said Jaime Muguiro, CEO of Cemex.

UK: Environment consultancy Arup has been appointed by Peak Cluster to lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and prepare the technical documentation for the development consent order (DCO) for the Peak Cluster project. Around 40% of all the UK’s cement and lime is produced across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, according to Arup, supporting over 2000 jobs but emitting more than 3Mt/yr of CO₂.

To address this challenge, Peak Cluster will develop carbon capture facilities at cement and lime production plants operated by Tarmac, Buxton Lime, Breedon, and Holcim. The captured CO₂ will be transported via a proposed underground pipeline to Spirit Energy’s planned geological storage site, Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ), for permanent storage.

Supported by AECOM and Quod, Arup will oversee the delivery of the EIA and DCO, covering the consenting of the proposed pipeline and the carbon capture facilities, including a detailed assessment of environmental effects on the surrounding areas during both construction and operation. The evaluation will also consider the interface with Spirit Energy’s offshore infrastructure for CO₂ storage.

Richard Lowe, director of energy consenting and development at Arup, said “We are delighted to be playing such a key role in the development of this transformative project, in which the UK National Wealth Fund has invested, and to build on our deep involvement from its earliest stages. Peak Cluster is working to secure a sustainable future for the UK cement and lime industry and act as a blueprint for similar developments across Europe and the rest of the world.”

John Egan, CEO of Peak Cluster, added “Peak Cluster is focused on securing a sustainable future for the cement and lime industry. Together with MNZ, the UK’s biggest carbon store, we will capture, transport and store CO₂ to help the industry thrive in a low-carbon future. This essential infrastructure will secure good jobs with good wages, produce sought-after low-carbon products here in Britain, grow the UK’s supply chain and skills base, secure private investment and lead the global low-carbon technology sector.”

Germany: Rohrdorfer has inaugurated a new pilot plant for tempered clays at its Rohrdorf cement facility in a ceremony attended by regional and state officials. They included Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry of the Interior Daniela Ludwig, who cut the ribbon alongside Rohrdorfer managing director Mike Edelmann.

The pilot plant has been operational since July 2025 and activates up to 50t/day of raw clay through thermal treatment. Tempered clays can replace clinker in cement, reportedly helping to cut emissions by around 30%, according to the company. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the EU, and will receive up to €8.65m in funding.

Daniela Ludwig said “With this new plant, the Rohrdorf cement plant is once again proving that it is one of the most innovative companies in our region. Decarbonising the cement industry is a key task if Germany is to achieve its climate goals as planned.”

By the end of 2026, Rohrdorfer’s Net Zero Emission team will determine the optimal composition of raw clays and refine the thermal treatment process, paving the way for a large-scale facility capable of achieving up to 60% CO₂ reductions.

Mike Edelmann said “We’ve achieved a lot within our plants, but our influence ends at the factory gates. The lack of planning security regarding CO₂ transport and storage, uncompetitive electricity prices and an uncertain mining landscape are holding us back. We urgently need more support from policymakers if climate targets are to be met.”

India: Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, will build a new cement grinding unit within the industrial estate of Adani Gangavaram Port. The project, spread across eight hectares, will be developed entirely within the port’s existing industrial zone. The facility will use industrial by-products such as slag and fly ash sourced from nearby steel and power plants. Raw materials will be transported via rail and sea to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with logistics.

Indonesia: Indocement, through its subsidiary PT Semen Bosowa Maros, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the city of Makassar’s government to collaborate on the use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) generated from the city’s waste management system.

The agreement was signed by Syamsul Rijal, Director of PT Semen Bosowa Maros, and Munafri Arifuddin, Mayor of Makassar, in the presence of company representatives.