Displaying items by tag: Europe

Central Europe: Austria-based RHI Magnesita has acquired P-D Refractories from Germany-based Preiss-Daimler Group for Euro45m. P-D Refractories produces refractories in the Czech Republic and Germany, and operates other sites in the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

RHI-Magnesita’s CEO Stefan Borgas said “The production capabilities and vertical integration of P-D Refractories, combined with RHI Magnesita’s know-how and renowned research and development capabilities, will complement our product portfolio and enlarge our production footprint and sales channels on a global scale. This acquisition is our sixth transaction to close in the year to date and marks a major milestone for both companies in the process industries sector. Together we look forward to expanding our footprint and strengthening our market presence by offering high-grade refractory products and solutions to an enlarged customer base.”

Oman: Tarek Talaat has moved from Egypt-based Misr Cement Group to Raysut Cement, where he takes over the role of CEO. He was previously managing director and CEO of Misr Cement Group. Before that, he held leadership positions across Europe, Egypt and the Middle East at Holcim, Arabian Cement Company and Ras Al Khaimah White Cement. Raysut Cement called Talaat the ‘standout’ choice for the CEO position, due to his vision, strategic mindset and proven turn-around experience. Tarek holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cairo University and studied financial management at INSEAD University in France. He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Swiss Business School, Zurich, in Switzerland.

Raysut Cement said “With Mr Tarek at the helm, we are confident that Raysut Cement will continue to thrive and reach new heights. His leadership will be instrumental in guiding the company through the ever-evolving landscape of the cement industry.”

Reuters has reported that Talaat’s resignation as managing director of Misr Cement Group will take effect on 12 October 2023.

Europe: The Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) has welcomed the EU’s new Empowering Consumers Directive. Under the directive, EU member states must enact laws preventing companies from labelling their products with climate claims based on offsetting. ECOS called the law a ‘significant measure against greenwashing.’ It called on the EU to further ensure that products neither rely on carbon credits, nor on contributions to sustainability projects, in calculating their impacts.

ECOS programme manager Elisa Martellucci said “The EU has taken aim at greenwashing. Climate neutrality claims based only on carbon offsetting are ambiguous and misleading for consumers because they are not linked to concrete efforts to combat the climate crisis. Instead, they rely on flawed carbon accounting practices that ‘write off’ greenhouse gas emissions. The amazing carbon emissions vanishing act is many companies’ dream – but emissions do not magically disappear. Policymakers have taken a strong stance against this deceptive practice.”

Europe: Norway-based Capsol Technologies says that it has signed contracts for two new feasibility studies for carbon capture installations at ‘large cement plants’ in the EU. If successful, the plants will proceed to the installation of Capsol Technologies’ CapsolEoP carbon capture systems. Nordic Daily News has reported that the technology reduces the energy consumption of carbon capture by 50%, and lowers its costs by 25%, according to the supplier.

The new contracts bring Capsol Technologies’ number of cement industry carbon capture contracts to four, and its total contracts to nine, with a potential CO₂ capture capacity of 10Mt/yr.

CEO Jan Kielland said "We are pleased that our solution is gaining attention, as demonstrated by an increasing number of incoming requests for sales engineering and engineering studies, and look forward to being a major contributor in the path to net zero for cement.”

Europe: Six cement plants were reportedly issued around Euro88m in free European Union emissions allowances (EUA) from 2019 to 2022 despite the clinker kilns at the units being idle or running at low levels. Research by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) has revealed that plants operated by Buzzi, Cementos Portland Valderrivas (CPV), Cemex, Holcim and Votorantim Cimentos all benefited from the scheme despite only emitting 36,370t of CO2. The companies would then have been able to use the subsidy to cover emissions costs at other plants or sell the permits. OPIS identified five plants in Spain and one in Germany.

Ireland: CRH recorded US$16.6m in consolidated sales during the first half of 2023, up by 8% year-on-year from first-half 2022 levels. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled US$2.5bn, up by 14%. Throughout the half, CRH invested US$600m in acquisitions, and maintained a ‘robust’ pipeline of further opportunities. In its Americas business, cement sales were ‘robust.’ There, volumes rose by 5%, and prices rose by 17%, despite adverse weather in Texas and the Western US. Meanwhile, price rises successfully offset local volume declines in Europe, but failed to do so in the Philippines. CRH said that infrastructure projects in the Philippines are experiencing delays. In Ukraine, it said that construction activity increased in the first half of 2023, despite the continuing Russian invasion.

CEO Albert Manifold said "I am pleased to report a strong first half performance, reflecting the continued delivery of our differentiated strategy, further commercial progress across our businesses and good contributions from acquisitions. The strength of our balance sheet, together with our relentless focus on disciplined capital allocation, will enable us to invest in future growth and value creation opportunities for our business."

Greece: Titan Cement Group reported sales of Euro1.23bn in the first half of 2023, up by 19% year-on-year from Euro1.04bn in the first half of 2022. Its sales rose by 25% to Euro736m in the US, by 21% to Euro197m in Greece and Western Europe and by 16% to Euro195m in Southeast Europe. However, they fell by 11% to Euro101m in the Eastern Mediterranean. The producer noted a cement demand decline in Brazil of 1.6%. Titan Cement Group's consolidated earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 77% to Euro241m from Euro136m.

Chair Marcel Cobuz said “An excellent first half of the year with strong pricing over costs and increased percentage of low carbon sales reaching 25% in infrastructure and building projects across the group. We are well on track for a record year of growth and an accelerated roadmap of decarbonisation and digitalisation.”

Europe: Holcim has secured funding for three separate carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects at its cement plants in Europe. The recipient projects are the Go4Zero project at Holcim Belgium's Obourg cement plant in Belgium, the KOdeCO project at Holcim Croatia's Koromačno cement plant in Croatia and the eM-Rhône project at Lafarge Ciments' Le Teil cement plant in France. The Le Teil plant's system will be used to produce e-methanol, while the investment at the Koromačno plant will be part of a package of upgrades to turn the plant carbon neutral.

Alongside on-going projects in Germany and Poland, this will bring Holcim's total number of EU-funded CCUS projects to five. Holcim is committed to US$2.33bn-worth of investments of its own in over 50 carbon capture projects worldwide before 2030.

Holcim's Europe regional head Miljan Gutovic said “It’s exciting to be at the forefront of decarbonising the building sector in Europe. The support we are receiving from the EU Innovation Fund for five of our CCUS projects is a great testament to the strength of our engineering teams, the maturity of our technologies and our advanced partnerships across the value chain. Our robust pipeline of projects positions us as the partner of choice to scale up carbon capture technologies in Europe.”

Europe: Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe has signed a collaboration agreement with Volvo Group for an investigation into the use of electric vehicles in loading and hauling. Under the agreement, Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe will implement a mix of its electric trucks and construction equipment machines in its operations. Land-based transport accounts for 6% of the producer's CO₂ emissions. Through electrification, Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe expects to eliminate 200,000t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

Heidelberg Materials CEO Dominik von Achten said “The partnership with Volvo is a lighthouse project in our industry and has the potential to significantly push the decarbonisation of our entire value chain in northern Europe. We look forward to working together to identify and implement state-of-the-art solutions for a fast climate transition in the construction sector."

Europe: The European cement industry association, Cembureau, has welcomed the enactment of the Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore ecosystems through binding targets in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy. The European Commission says that the law provides a framework to 'secure the things nature does for free, like cleaning our water and air, pollinating crops and protecting us from floods,' as well as to help limit climate change to +1.5°C.

In a joint statement with other extractive industry bodies, Cembureau told the EU that member states' national restoration plans should take into account industry efforts to plan and implement nature restoration, that member states should protect pioneer species in line with the Nature Directives Species Protection Guidelines' definition of temporary nature and that restoration efforts outside of designated Natura 2000 areas should be addressed on a case-by-case basis in recognition of sectoral specificities.