02 July 2024

UK: Heidelberg Materials has announced the launch of a public consultation for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Padeswood Cement Works. The consultation, which runs from 2 July - 12 August 2024, will gather public input on the proposed plans to install the CCS technology, which will capture up to 800,000t/yr of CO₂, according to local news reports.

The Padeswood CCS project is expected to create over 400 jobs and forms part of the HyNet North West initiative, a major industrial decarbonisation effort that includes constructing a 60km pipeline to transport CO₂ to depleted gas reservoirs in Liverpool Bay for storage.

UK: Aggregate Industries has commenced civil construction at its new manufacturing facility and import terminal at the Port of Tilbury. This new grinding station and storage facility aims to be fully operational by 2026.

The project will allow the company to supply conventional, low-carbon and circular cementitious materials 24 hours a day from five loading heads, meeting growing demands for sustainable building materials. It includes investments in new plant equipment for manufacturing blended cements and lower carbon cement components, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag and materials from construction demolition.

Peru: Unacem has unveiled its roadmap to 2030, committing to a carbon emissions target of 500kg of CO₂/t of cement by 2030 across all operations, a reduction from the current 607kg/t. The company plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and is investing US$300m to meet these goals.

In 2023, Unacem achieved a CO₂ reduction of 5kg/t of cement and targets a further 6kg/t reduction in 2024, with medium-term goals of 21kg/t and 16kg/t for 2025 and 2026, respectively. The roadmap also includes enhancing thermal efficiency and transitioning to 100% clean energy for its Peruvian operations by 2035.

Ghana: The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is set to close down several cement manufacturing firms for producing low-quality products, as part of its effort to combat substandard cement production nationwide, according to Adom Online. This initiative aligns with the protections outlined in the Ghana Standards Authority Act 2022. Currently, there are only 14 licensed cement plants in Ghana.

Director General, Alex Dodoo, said "The GSA has done research and we have noticed that some particular players believe that the only way to compete is to reduce the quality of cement. We have closed three of them and I can assure you that in the coming days a lot more will be closed down. If there is one thing we will not compromise on, it is quality.”

Vietnam: The average export value of Vietnamese cement and clinker has dropped sharply in 2023 due to falling prices, with the average price for clinker declining to US$31-32/t in May 2024, from US$46-48/t in 2022. The Vietnam News Brief Service reports that the Ministry of Construction (MoC) has identified an increase in export tax from 5% to 10% starting 1 January 2023, and additional anti-dumping duties imposed by the Philippines in March 2023, as barriers reducing the global competitiveness of Vietnamese clinker.

In response, the MoC has proposed eliminating the export tax on clinker and revising policies to allow for VAT refunds on clinker exports. According to the MoC, resolving these tax and VAT issues is key to the success of Vietnamese clinker exports, which currently lag 20% behind international competitors,