Global Cement News

France: Following a successful trial that began in December 2019, LafargeHolcim has inaugurated a FastCarb CO₂ absorption accelerator into concrete production at its Val d'Azergues cement and concrete plant (integrated capacity 0.4Mt/yr) in Lozanne. The technology involves the capture of CO₂ from the plant’s cement kiln for reinjection into concrete produced with recycled aggregates. François Petry, LafargeHolcim France managing director, said the installation ‘fits perfectly into our Lafarge 360 approach for more responsible construction.’ The five-pillar approach consists of alternative fuel substitution and development, power consumption reduction, formulation of new cements, cooperation with Airium insulation solutions and assistance with low-carbon building design.

UK: InterBulk Group delivered a batch of Italcementi’s I.tech Ali-Na sulphoaluminate binder produced at its 0.3Mt/yr Guardiaregia cement plant in Molise, Italy to fellow HeidelbergCement subsidiary Hanson’s concrete plant in Hull, UK, on 28 January 2020. Hanson will use the low-environmental-impact binder in the production of fast-setting premixes for the UK market.

India: The government of Andhra Pradesh terminated JC Company subsidiary Trishul Cement’s limestone extraction lease of an area in Konappalapadu, Ananthapurama District, which had previously been extended for five years in 2015, for the company’s failure to establish an integrated cement plant in the area. The state-government also revoked a 20-year lease granted in mid-2007 of a plot of land for a cement plant on which no work had been undertaken. Hans India News has reported that JC Company has dissolved Trishul Cements by incorporation.

Mexico: Cemex has announced that it is currently helping 45,000 young people across 11 countries to improve their employability through such initiatives as its New Employment Opportunities (NEO) initiative, which provides industry training to disadvantaged Caribbean and Latin American youths. The company says it aims to positively impact more than 65,000 youngsters by 2022 through its initiatives including awards programmes and volunteering schemes and its partnership with the Global Alliance for Youth (All4YOUth), through which it aims to promote skills.

Germany: Dominik von Achten is set to become the new chairman of HeidelbergCement from the start of February 2020. He has been deputy chairman of the managing board since 2015 and succeeds Bernd Scheifele, who is retiring.

Achten, aged 54 years, has been a member of the managing board of HeidelbergCement since 2007. His area of responsibility included the group areas of North America and Western and Southern Europe as well as the Competence Center Materials. He worked on the integration of both Hanson and Italcementi. As Chief Digital Officer, he is responsible for the areas of digital transformation and digital ventures.

After a statutory two-year cooling-off period has expired, Scheifele will stand as a candidate for the supervisory board of HeidelbergCement in 2022 to become its chairman.

Lorenz Näger, who has been the company’s chief financial officer since 2004, will additionally become the new deputy chairman of the Managing Board. He is responsible for Finance, Group Accounting, Controlling, Taxes, Treasury, Data Protection, Insurance & Corporate Risk Management, IT, Purchasing and Shared Service Center.

Achten will hand over responsibility for the Western and Southern Europe Group area to Jon Morrish, who was previously responsible for the North America Group area.

Chris Ward, who was previously head of the Canada region and has been a member of the managing board of HeidelbergCement AG since September 2019, takes over the North America Group area and the Competence Center Materials. He has been with the company since 1996 and held several management positions in the US before assuming responsibility for the Canada region of the North America Group area.