US: Continental Cement has ordered a Fuelflex Pyrolyzer alternative fuels combustion system from Denmark-based FLSmidth for installation at its Davenport plant in Buffalo, Iowa. The supplier says that its product offers a lower capital expenditure compared to competing systems, can control NO_x emissions without the need for ammonia water and can be installed without a long shutdown period. This is the first commercial installation of the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer system following a pre-commercial installation at the Mannok cement plant in Northern Ireland, UK, in 2022.

David Loomes, the president of Continental Cement, said “We’re very excited about what the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer will do for our process.” He added, “We’re planning to achieve 55% fossil fuel replacement across the plant, utilising non-hazardous waste that would otherwise go to landfill or incinerators. The economic and environmental benefits of this technology are very significant and a key element of executing our carbon reduction commitment.” Continental Cement, a subsidiary of Summit Materials, has been incorporating waste materials as fuels for more than 30 years.

Jens Jonas Skov Larsen, Head of Capital Sales at FLSmidth, said “Mannok has called the Fuelflex Pyrolyzer a game-changer for the cement industry.” He continued, “This system effectively rearranges the order of the combustion process to make use of hot preheater meal, which is the heat source for the waste fuel pyrolysis. It’s a more efficient way of burning alternative fuels and it comes with a host of benefits, including reduced emissions and a more stable process.”

The installation at Davenport cement plant is expected to start operation in 2024. The full commercial launch for the system is scheduled by 2025. No value for the order has been disclosed.

Bolivia: Itacamba Cemento declared a general assembly of bondholders on 22 May 2023 void after bondholders failed to attend in sufficient numbers for the meeting to proceed. The company said that there was insufficient quorum in accordance with the provisions of its bond issuance programme, and that the way forward would be to call a new assembly.

This story was amended on 26 May 2023, after a previous version erroneously stated that the bond issuance had been declared void - whereas it was the inquorate meetings that were declared void. Global Cement apologises for this error.

Greece/Belgium: Titan Cement International has bought back a further Euro313,000-worth (0.4%) of its shares. The latest buyback increases its ownership stake to 4.4%. The cement producer bought the shares via the Athens Stock Exchange and Euronext Brussels exchange.

Spain: Cemex España and ecology company Cinclus have extended their quarry rehabilitation partnership to a national level. Under the extended collaboration, the partners will implement restoration plans for all of Cemex España’s quarries, in line with the cement producer’s Biodiversity Action Plans.