France: Vicat has won a Major Industrial Decarbonisation Projects grant for its Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance carbon capture project from the French government. The project aims to capture and store 1.2Mt/yr of CO₂ from the company’s Montalieu-Vercieu cement plant, the largest in the country. DPA-AFX News has reported that the project previously won EU Innovation Fund backing in November 2025, with a final investment decision due in 2027.
India: Member of Parliament for Shillong Ricky Syngkon called for the suspension of the environmental clearance procedure for Shree Cement’s planned Daistong cement plant in Meghalaya on 15 February 2026. The planned 0.95Mt/yr integrated plant also includes 40,000t/yr additional cement grinding capacity, a 15MW captive power plant and a 7MW waste heat recovery plant.
Syngkon called on the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change to suspend the clearance procedure for the Daistong plant, pending an independent review into its impacts and alleged ‘procedural irregularities.’ He suggested risks to air quality, groundwater, rivers, agriculture and forest habitats. Press Trust of India News has reported that local residents alleged ‘serious deficiencies’ in a statutory public hearing, including obstruction from attending. Syngkon noted the ‘gravity of public concern.’
Russia: MMK subsidiary Magnitogorsk Cement and Refractory Plant has completed reconstruction of slag drying drum furnaces at its plant in Chelyabinsk Oblast. The furnaces feature recirculating burners to prevent the formation of NOx and reduce the energy consumption of slag drying by 10%, according to the company. AK&M News has reported that the producer is now installing an automated emissions control system at the plant.
Plant director Yuri Kochubeev said "It is fundamentally important for us to ensure the plant's efficiency increases, while strictly adhering to high environmental standards."
Switzerland: Holcim held She Leads, a week-long programme of virtual and in-person meetings, earlier in February 2026. 25 female employees of Holcim attended the programme, which offered instruction in executive presence, public speaking, branding and business strategy, as well as networking and targeted development opportunities.
LafargeHolcim Maroc Fes cement plant process manager Kawtar Tansaoui said “Being part of this community of women from around the world reminded me that leadership is not only about driving results. It’s also about courage, vulnerability and lifting each other up.”
While the first cohort of She Leads attendees all work in technical roles, subsequent iterations of the programme will serve women in commercial, logistics and leadership positions. Holcim plans for a further 50 women to attend the She Leads programme in 2026.
