Global Cement News

Peru: Grupo Gloria subsidiary Yura plans to build a solar power plant in Yura, Arequipa. The plant will have a peak power of 31MWp and a nominal power of 27MW. The installation involves a 1.3km-long, 30kV transmission line. Gestión News has reported that the project is intended to reduce the costs associated with the company’s cement production.

Finland: Boliden says it has a developed a 95% reduced-CO₂ alternative cement production process based on the use of slag. Nordic Daily News has reported that the process has received verification from ‘established players in the cement industry.’ A preliminary study is underway, wherein Boliden will establish a 250,000t/yr production plant. Additionally, the process extracts usable metal from slag.

Sweden: Umeå University is part of the ELECTRA project, a €20m EU initiative aimed at advancing green transition in cement and lime production through electrified processes. This project, involving global industry leaders, is funded under the Horizon Europe initiative and led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

The Department of Applied Physics and Electronics at Umeå University has collaborated with the Swedish quicklime and cement industry since 2007. Matias Eriksson, director of the Centre for Sustainable Cement and Quicklime Production at Umeå University, said “This is an important project. It is the first Horizon Europe project we are participating in," He continued "We are pleased with the confidence the European Commission, heavy materials industry and other research performers show in our work. ELECTRA can play an important role in the industry's green transition, first and foremost in Sweden and the rest of Europe. But because the technology and the industry are global, the effects can be extensive."

Sweden: Alternative cement producer Cemvision has concluded its seed funding round, the largest in the green cement sector to date, according to the company. Participants included BackingMinds, Polar Structure and Zacua Ventures. The fund raised €10m, which the company says will contribute to its short-term growth. Cemvision announced its first commercial supply contract for its Re-ment alternative cement in December 2023.

CEO Oscar Hållén said “This investment will accelerate our near-future operations, right before we make the next jump, which is not too far away. Having met and retained interest from venture capitalists worldwide, we concluded some of the very best ones were right around the corner, and we are delighted to have them doubling down on Cemvision. Furthermore, Zacua Ventures’ global understanding of the green transition of the built environment is the most impressive we’ve ever come across.”

Nigeria: The governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has officially commissioned a 20km road built by Lafarge Africa. The road is being constructed at Mfamosing, Lafarge's operational base, and ends at Odukpani junction near Ayade’s Flyover. It was initiated in 2010 as a bypass to alleviate traffic congestion.

Governor Otu said “What you have done has taken this whole traffic completely out of town and straight to the road where they are actually looking to take things out of the state. I commend you and wish that other corporate bodies would emulate Lafarge.”

Alade Akinyemi, group managing director and CEO of Lafarge, informed the governor that the project was started in 2010, but was delayed due to challenges associated with geotechnical studies and the design. He said “The road will improve safety, drive economic growth, and enhance productivity due to reduction of man hour as a result of no traffic and congestion.”