22 February 2023

US: Leilac has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US-based Heirloom to use Leilac’s kiln technology in Heirloom’s direct air capture (DAC) process. The MOU outlines the key terms for a licence and collaboration agreement.

Daniel Rennie, the chief executive officer of Leilac, said “Leilac is delighted to be partnering with Heirloom. Our partnership will apply Leilac’s core technology for cement and lime decarbonisation to address the global challenge of excess atmospheric CO₂.” He added “Heirloom uses low-cost and abundant limestone, which Leilac’s technology is specifically designed for. Both technologies are modular, easily scalable and can be renewably powered.”

Heirloom is developing a method of using limestone to remove atmospheric CO₂ in a DAC process. The proposed DAC method using both Leilac and Heirloom technology will heat limestone in a Leilac kiln to release CO₂ that can then be captured and sequestered. The lime that the kiln produces will then be reformed back into limestone directly capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere in an accelerated process. This limestone will then be feed back into the kiln restarting the process. The partners also suggest powering the kiln from renewable electricity sources to further increase the net reduction of CO₂ emissions from the process. No cost for the combined process or who would pay for it has been revealed so far.

Leilac is a subsidiary of Australia-based Calix that has been testing its indirectly heated calcination technology with the cement and lime industry since the mid-2010s. An industrial scale application of the process at Heidelberg Material’s Hanover cement plant in Germany is expected to be ready to start testing by the end of 2023. Additional projects have been announced in Australia with Adbri and Boral.

US: Holcim subsidiary Geocycle has signed a multi-year contract with Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to market fly ash produced by the power generation companies. Geocycle and Holcim will use to up to around 225,000t/yr of fly ash to produce blended cement products.

Sophie Wu, Head of Geocycle North America, said “In line with Geocycle’s commitment and passion for recycling and achieving a net zero future, we are honoured to partner with Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to develop creative and efficient solutions that contribute to the circular economy.” She added, “Together we’ll be able develop blended cementitious materials, reduce CO₂ levels and further encourage carbon neutral construction.”

US: Kosmos Cement has ordered a mobile ship unloader from Sweden-based Bruks Siwertell for use at its terminal in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. The product is designed to discharge vessels up to 5000dwt and has a continuous rated cement handling capacity of 300t/hr. Delivery is planned for the spring of 2023.

Australia: Italy-based Bedeschi has started a new subsidiary in Australia. Bedeschi Australia’s head office is based in Perth with satellite offices in Port Hedland and Brisbane. The company is intended to target the mining, port and agricultural sectors. Uwe Zulehner has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Bedeschi Australia.

US: Prometheus Materials’ microalgae-based biocement has secured certification for use in concrete masonry unit (CMU) mixes. The cement now holds an ASTM C129 certificate for use in non-loadbearing CMUs and an ASTM C90 certificate for use in loadbearing CMUs. Prometheus Materials’ biocement produces concrete with comparable or superior mechanical, physical and thermal properties to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete. It offers little-to-no CO₂ emissions and 95% of water used in production is recycled.

Prometheus Materials CEO Loren Burnett said “We are thrilled to have achieved these two foundational certifications as we proceed in full force with our goal of decarbonising construction. Prometheus Materials’ product is poised to change the future of construction, converting one of the most carbon-polluting industries to a low-carbon – and one day net-zero carbon – reality.”

India: Indian Railways has shared plans to establish dedicated rail corridors to supply raw materials to the cement sector. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the corridors will connect plants to sources of clinker, fly ash and limestone. Indian Railways says that the plans encompass ‘different parts of the country,’ and will be implemented over the 10-year period up to the end of the 2033 financial year. In addition to offering ‘better service’ and ‘attractive’ prices, the rail company will also carry out capital expenditure investments in order to maximise the volume of materials travelling on its cement corridors.

Pakistan: Kohat Cement has informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange that is has bought back 2.5% of its shares. The value of the transaction was US$191,000.