Nigeria: Bauchi State Government, in partnership with Resident Cement, has commenced work on a US$1.5bn cement plant in Diji Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area, according to Arise News.

Resident Cement Group Chairman Abbas Junaid stated that limestone deposits in the area are sufficient to sustain a 10Mt/yr capacity plant for 100 years. The company has begun drilling and will deploy four rigs to complete the project within two months, with full construction of the plant to begin in three months.

Canada: Progressive Planet has secured up to US$3.2m in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to support the construction of a pilot plant for PozGlass, its low-carbon supplementary cementitious material (SCM) made from post-consumer glass. The funding will be distributed over four years, with the first tranche of US$1m received on 31 January 2025.

"PozGlass is our solution to reducing the carbon footprint of cement production. This funding allows us to innovate, reduce emissions and create value from post-consumer glass, a material that has been historically misallocated and considered waste," said Progressive Planet CEO Steve Harpur.

Progressive Planet signed a purchase agreement with Lafarge Canada in June 2023 for all PozGlass produced at the pilot plant, up to a maximum of 3500t/yr. Under the agreement, Lafarge Canada will provide technical guidance and support for the plant’s design, construction and operation.

Saudi Arabia: City Cement recorded a 76% increase in net profit to US$38.4m in 2024, up from US$21.9m in 2023. The company’s revenue grew by 46% year-on-year to US$139m, compared to US$95m in 2023. The increase in sales was attributed to higher sales volumes and an increase in average selling prices. For the first nine months of 2024, City Cement reported a net profit of US$27.4m and revenue of US$96.3m.

Sweden: Swedish cement manufacturer Cemvision has entered a strategic partnership with Norway-based residential developer JM to develop ‘climate-friendly’ cement and concrete. As part of the agreement, JM has also acquired a minority stake in Cemvision.

Cemvision’s cement reportedly reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional cement, through the use of recycled industrial waste from mining and steel industries, combined with renewable energy in its kiln operations.