China: KHD Humboldt Wedag has commissioned a Pyrorotor alternative fuels (AF) system on a 5000t/day production line at Conch Group’s Baoshan cement plant in Yunnan Province. The project marks the second installation of the technology in China. During commissioning, the system processed high-moisture biomass and a mix of municipal waste, achieving a feed rate of 18t/hr while maintaining kiln stability. No material build-up at the kiln inlet was recorded, and the unit operated at higher rotational speeds to adapt to challenging fuel conditions.

KHD’s commissioning supervisor A Timuçin Tuzcuoğlu said “The Pyrorotor unit handled the adverse fuel conditions without a problem,” adding that further improvements could be achieved with higher-quality fuels.

Following commissioning, the plant plans to test additional biomass feedstocks, expand AF preparation capacity and explore the use of externally-sourced AF. It also intends to showcase the installation to officials from other plants within Conch Group.

Germany: Cool Planet Technologies has begun to assemble its 10,000t/yr carbon capture facility at Holcim’s Höver cement plant, with all major equipment now delivered to the site.
The company is installing and connecting prefabricated modules, with assembly expected to be completed in April 2026. Capture operations are scheduled to begin in mid-2026, followed by a 12-month demonstration programme.

The plant uses a modular membrane-based carbon capture system, with process modules fabricated and assembled by Blackrow Engineering in the UK and transported to Höver for final assembly. This will be integrated with other equipment manufactured across Europe. Blackrow Engineering is assisting with on-site assembly.

Cool Planet Technologies’ CEO Andrew Corner said “We are excited to be in the final stages of building our plant at Höver and we look forward to seeing this ground-breaking plant operational in the coming months. This will mark a major milestone in the industrial deployment of our technology and positions Cool Planet at the forefront of lower cost, scalable industrial carbon capture solutions.”

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos reported net profit of US$609m in 2025, up by 196% year-on-year, supported by higher sales volumes, pricing and increased revenues from new businesses. Global net revenues reached US$5.6bn, rising by 9% on a comparable basis, while cement sales volumes increased by 5% to 37.0Mt. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was US$1.3bn, up by 7%.

The company invested US$705m during the year, a 14% increase, aligned with its strategy focused on decarbonisation, competitiveness and expansion. Of its US$952m investment plan for Brazil between 2024 and 2028, US$514m is already being deployed. Operationally, Votorantim Cimentos advanced its alternative fuels strategy, including the installation of a bypass system at its Salto de Pirapora plant and the expansion of its Verdera waste management business. In Spain, the Toral de los Vados plant achieved an alternative fuel substitution rate of 80% for one month after investing in a new precalciner. The company reported net CO2 emissions of 552kg/t of cementitious material, unchanged from 2024, but representing a reduction of 28% compared to 1990 levels. It also began operations, reportedly before schedule, at the Paracatu solar farm. The facility supplies around 100MW of renewable energy from 770,000 solar panels across 700 hectares.

Regionally, the company reported US$2.7bn in revenues in Brazil for 2025, up by 13%. It said that North America presented a ‘challenging environment marked by political and economic uncertainty and volatility,’ but still recorded revenues of US$1.6bn, up by 4% compared to 2024. Revenues in Europe and Asia reached US$857m, up by 8%, with EBITDA rising by 29%. Votorantim said that Bolivia and Uruguay’s economies experienced a slowdown, but its Latin American revenues still increased by 25% and EBITDA rose by 56%.

“Votorantim Cimentos had another year of solid operational and financial performance, with consistent and consecutive growth. This performance reflects the strength of our portfolio, our geographic diversification and a solid capital structure to support our growth strategy,” said Osvaldo Ayres, global CEO of Votorantim Cimentos.

Georgia: Kartuli Cement, which produces cement and concrete under the ‘Hunnewell Cement’ brand, has submitted plans to expand its Kaspi cement plant. According to Prime News, an environmental impact assessment has been submitted to expand the plant’s clinker production line. The proposed new line will raise clinker output by 1200t/day, or 378,000t/yr, bringing total annual production capacity to 1.86Mt/yr. The project is intended to meet growing domestic demand and reduce dependence on imported clinker from neighbouring countries.

The plant will reportedly primarily use coal as fuel, supplemented by used tyres and natural gas, while new filtration systems will be installed at 21 emission points to reduce dust. A closed-cycle water system will also be implemented to avoid discharge into surface waters.

The company reported revenues of US$210m in 2024 and net profit of US$60m, both of which are nearly double that of the previous year.