10 January 2025

Romania: The Competition Council has fined Holcim Romania, Romcim and Heidelberg Materials Romania a total of €43.7m for allegedly coordinating pricing policies during the period of 2017–2018, according to Economedia Romania. Holcim Romania was fined €18.2m, Romcim €13.3m and Heidelberg Materials €12.2m.

The Council found that the companies exchanged non-public commercial information regarding prices, discounts and payment terms through customers, which was used to establish commercial strategies regarding pricing policy. Bogdan Chirițoiu, president of the Competition Council said that “The behaviour led to reduced competition, which generated an increase in cement prices compared to neighbouring countries.”

Holcim has since responded, saying that it will appeal the fine imposed and calling the decision ‘unfounded’ in a recent press release.  

Bogdan Dobre, CEO of Holcim Romania & Market Head Moldova, said “Holcim Romania rejects the conclusions of the investigation report and declares that it has acted and continues to act in accordance with the competition rules. We consider the decision to be unfounded, therefore Holcim Romania will exercise its right of defense before the courts and will challenge the sanction issued by the Romanian competition authority.”

US: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded funding for two Leilac projects to conduct preliminary front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) studies, subject to final negotiations.

A project at Roanoke Cement Company in Virginia, led by Titan Group in partnership with Leilac, Amazon and Virginia Tech, received US$1.49m. It aims to capture over 500,000t/yr of CO₂ from cement Scope 1 emissions using Leilac’s technology.

A project at Mississippi Lime Company in St Louis, Missouri, in partnership with Leilac, Industrial Ally and Nuada, received US$1.5m. It seeks to achieve net-zero lime manufacturing by integrating Leilac’s CO₂ capture technology with Nuada’s carbon capture system for combustion emissions.

Calix CEO Phil Hodgson said “We look forward to concluding the grant agreements and developing these exciting projects that have the potential to demonstrate industry-leading solutions to produce both low-carbon cement and lime at commercial scale.”

India: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with JK Cement to support startups, entrepreneurs and innovation in manufacturing. The partnership will provide access to JK Cement’s infrastructure, manufacturing and research and development facilities, mentorship programmes, pilot projects and university resources.

Türkiye: Sinoma Overseas has dispatched its 300t/hr ball mill and roller press system for Kipas Cement's grinding project. The Kipas team conducted a factory inspection at Sinoma’s ball mill manufacturing workshop prior to shipment.