Philippines: DMCI Holdings has entered into negotiations to acquire Cemex Holdings Philippines, Reuters has reported, citing three sources ‘familiar with the matter.’ The sources expect the value of the transaction to exceed Cemex Holdings Philippines' current market capitalisation of US$375m. One source reportedly valued any future deal at an estimated US$714m.

Zimbabwe: Khayah Cement (formerly Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe) more than tripled its sales year-on-year to US$17.4m in the first half of 2023, from US$4.8m in the first half of 2022. During the year, the producer more than doubled its cement volumes, after repairing a collapsed mill roof and commissioning of a new vertical roller mill at its Manresa cement plant. Nonetheless, its loss grew by a factor of six to US$46.2m from US$7.2m.

Khayah Cement began making foreign currency sales, which accounted for 89% of first-half sales, in 2023. The company previously postponed the publication of its results for the half year following delays in finalising external audits.

Greece: Titan Cement Group has appeared on carbon disclosure organisation CDP's A List for corporate transparency and climate impact mitigation. The company achieved an A- for water security. Titan Cement Group says that the recognition aligns with its 2026 Green Growth strategy.

Titan Cement Group reduced its CO₂ emissions by 10% between 2020 and 2023. In 2023, it commenced construction of the 1.9Mt/yr IFESTOS carbon capture and storage project.

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has earned an A the CDP Climate Change 2023 Questionnaire. This achievement reflects the producer's leadership in climate change performance and transparency. Between 1990 and 2022, Votorantim Cimentos reduced its CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement produced by 24%.

Global director of sustainability, institutional relations, product development and engineering Álvaro Lorenz said "Earning the highest score from CDP is something we are very proud of. We work daily to achieve our goals in line with our 2030 Sustainability Commitments and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tackling the negative effects of climate change is at the core of our strategy and we recognise the role, importance and relevance of our decarbonisation journey."

UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) will launch the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge on 20 February 2024. The programme aims to bring together select green technology start-ups and global cement producers. The GCCA will announce details of the challenge's topic at the launch event on 20 February 2024, featuring industry and start-up speakers, including previous challenge participants. Registration is accessible here on the GCCA website.

GCCA chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said "Innovation and new technologies will help unlock our industry’s net zero future. Join us on 20 February 2024 to hear about this year’s exciting challenge."

Register for the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge3rd Innovandi Open Challenge

EU: Cemex has welcomed the European Commission's Carbon Management Strategy, its new policy approach to industrial CO₂ emissions reduction. The approach highlights the storage of biogenic CO₂ and the development of CO₂ transport infrastructure as major strategic paths. Cemex said that it will assist in the design and implementation of actions under the Carbon Management Strategy. In its European cement operations, Cemex reduced its CO₂ intensity by 45% in 2023 compared to 1990 levels, and aims to achieve a 55% reduction by 2030. The producer called for ‘the completion of the policy landscape’ in complement to the industry’s on-going efforts towards full decarbonisation.

Cemex Europe, Middle East and Africa director communications, public affairs and social impact Martin Casey said “The strategy is comprehensive and outlines relevant fields of action, but what is essential now is a timely implementation. For companies to move forward, the regulatory framework regarding carbon capture and utilisation or storage, along with carbon accounting and removals, must be completed as a matter of the utmost urgency. The cement plant of 2030 is planned and designed today.”

Ethiopia: The Lemi National Cement Factory is preparing to start production. The 8Mt/yr plant is expected to be completed in March 2024, according to the Xinhua News Agency. China-based Sinoma International Engineering is building the unit. The US$600m project is a joint venture between West International Holding, a subsidiary West China Cement, and the East African Holding Company. The plant is located at the Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park around 150km north of Addis Ababa.

Nepal: Hetauda Cement Industry has resumed cement production after a three-month cessation since late 2023. The company stopped making cement due to coal shortages, according to the República newspaper. General manager Basant Raj Pandey said that future stoppages were now unlikely, as the company had secured a regular supply of coal. The company is also conducting negotiations with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to install new equipment and provide subsidies for the purchase of raw materials such as coal.

UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has awarded Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) a front end engineering design (FEED) contract for an upcoming carbon capture installation at its Padeswood cement plant in Flintshire. Australia-based Worley will also collaborate on the project, which is scheduled to become operational in 2028. The partners aim to capture up to 800,000t/yr of CO₂ using MHI’s amine solvent-based Advanced KM CDR process. MHI previously conducted a pre-FEED carbon capture study at the Padeswood plant, beginning in 2022.

Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive officer Simon Willis said "This is a decisive next step in our plans to install carbon capture technology at our Padeswood cement works. Once operational, it will provide net zero building materials for major projects across the country, enabling us to help decarbonise the construction industry and meet our ambition to become a net zero business."

MHI CEO and head of engineering solutions Kenji Terasawa said "Heidelberg Materials UK has committed to reaching net zero carbon by 2050 and will be deploying our proprietary carbon capture technology, the Advanced KM CDR process, to tackle this challenge, leading the way in the UK's cement industry."

Spain: Capital Energy has won a contract to supply renewable energy to Cementos Alfa’s Mataporquera cement plant in Cantabria. The energy company will supply 80,000MWh/yr to the subsidiary of Cementos Portland Valderrivas under the contract, initially from five local wind farms. The contract takes the form of long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), under a self-consumption scheme with surpluses.