Image: Hereon / Rabea Osol

Germany: On 21 August 2026, the new membrane test facility at Holcim’s cement plant in Höver was officially commissioned by government officials and Stephan Hinrichs, CEO of Holcim Germany.  The technology was developed at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon and brought to market by Cool Planet Technologies. It is designed to capture up to 90% of the CO₂ emissions from the plant.

The Hereon membranes consist of several layers of polymer and allow CO₂ to pass through more quickly than other flue gas components such as nitrogen and oxygen. In Höver, the exhaust gas stream from the cement plant is passed through the test facility over the membranes. The CO₂ is separated and discharged, while the remaining, low-emission exhaust gas stream is returned to the cement plant. This expansion phase is expected to capture up to 10,000t/yr of emissions in Höver. The CO₂ is processed and can be used as a raw material. The membrane process is chemical-free and can be operated entirely with renewable electricity.

The project has received funding from the Federal Funding Program for Industry and Climate Protection, through which the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy supports the decarbonisation of heavy industries, including the development and application of carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies (CCUS) for capturing, storing and utilising CO₂.

“Höver will be one of the first industrial sites in Germany where CO₂ is captured in a real and large-scale manner,” said Holcim CEO Stephan Hinrichs. “We are relying on cutting-edge European technology and leveraging the engineering expertise of our technology partners. Together, we are demonstrating in Lower Saxony that climate protection and strengthening industry can go hand in hand.”

Eswatini: The Eswatini Competition Commission (ESCC) has conditionally approved the acquisition of 100% of AfriSam eSwatini by Singapore-based West International New Building Materials (WINBM). The competition watchdog imposed safeguards to prevent the transaction from weakening competition in the country’s cement market. The transaction was notified to the commission on 17 December 2025, and was determined by the technical committee of the Board of Commissioners on 8 July 2026.

WINBM is an investment company incorporated in Singapore and has no physical presence in Eswatini. However, its group imports cement into the country from Mozambique Dugongo Cimentos, a subsidiary through which it participates in the local cement market. AfriSam, meanwhile, is incorporated in South Africa and indirectly wholly owns AfriSam eSwatini. The local subsidiary operates a cement blending facility in Matsapha and sources bulk cement and other input materials from AfriSam in South Africa.

Gabon: CIMAF Gabon plans to invest US$222m in two projects to increase local production capacity and support the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the country, according to the Gabonese Press Agency. The first investment, estimated at US$177m, is for the construction of an integrated plant in Ntoum. The second project, valued at US$44m, involves the commissioning of a third line at CIMAF’s plant in Owendo. This will provide an additional capacity of 1Mt/yr, bringing the site's total capacity to 1.85Mt/yr. These investments will reportedly help to reduce Gabon's dependence on cement imports, limit foreign exchange outflows, and secure supply for the domestic market.

Pakistan: Cherat Cement has reported profits of US$25.9m in the 2026 financial year, reflecting a 16% year-on-year decline. Net revenue for the quarter to 30 June 2026 declined by 9% year-on-year to US$32.9m, though it increased by 13% quarter-on-quarter, driven by higher domestic despatches.