Displaying items by tag: Memorandum of Understanding

Austria: Lafarge Zementwerke, OMV, Verbund and Borealis have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint planning and construction of a full-scale plant by 2030 to capture CO₂ and process it into synthetic fuels, plastics or other chemicals. As part of the ‘Carbon2ProductAustria’ (C2PAT) project the companies intend to build the unit at the integrated Mannersdorf cement plant and capture all of the 0.7Mt/yr of CO₂ emitted.

"We are committed to leading the industry in reducing carbon emissions and shifting towards low-carbon construction. We have worked consistently and successfully on the reduction of the CO₂ footprint of our cement plants, products and solutions. Ultimately, CO₂-neutral cement production can only be possible with the implementation of breakthrough technologies, like carbon capture, which is why we have great expectations for the C2PAT project", said Lafarge’s local chief executive officer (CEO) José Antonio Primo.

The project aims to use hydrogen produced by Verbund to allow OMV to transform the captured CO₂ into a range of olefins, fuels and plastics. Borealis would then use some of these products as a feedstock to manufacture plastics. However, the companies say that, “taking the next steps towards a Zero CO₂ economy will require the right financial as well as favourable regulatory framework conditions. The success of C2PAT will largely depend on whether the right financial and regulatory framework conditions are created both at the European Union and Austrian national level.”

The joint project is designed in three phases. In phase one, the partners are currently evaluating and developing a joint strategy for project development, business modelling and process engineering. Based on the results of phase one, a cluster of industrial pilot plants in the Eastern part of Austria could be technically developed and built in the mid-2020s in phase two. Phase three entails building a full scale CO₂ capture and utilisation unit at a cement plant.

Lafarge Zementwerke is the Austrian subsidiary of building materials manufacturer LafargeHolcim. OMV produces and markets oil and gas, energy and other petrochemical products. Verbund is an Austrian-based electricity generator, with a focus on hydroelectric power. Borealis is a chemical company and a producer of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers.

US: The Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL), GreenOre Clean Tech, Columbia University and Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to test carbon utilisation and recycling technology. GreenOre Clean Tech, using technology under license from Columbia University, will use testing space at the Integrated Test Center (ITC) near the Dry Fork Station coal-fired power station in Gillette, Wyoming. Calcium carbonate produced through CO₂ mineralisation could then potentially be used for aggregates, concrete production or in paper production. The test will be funded by JCOAL with additional support from project partners.

The State of Wyoming and JCOAL have been working together since 2016, when they signed an initial MOU committing to cooperation in coal research and development of technologies and coal trade. JCOAL operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and is supported by more than 120 member coal-related businesses, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Nippon Steel and Toshiba. Kawasaki is scheduled to test its solid sorbent capture technology at the ITC beginning in 2021.

India: FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals India plans to start operations at its new 0.3Mt/yr white cement plant to be built at Nohra Dhar, Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh by 2022. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Aravali and the state government, according to the Press Trust of India. The project has an investment of US$85m and it is expected to create 150 jobs. Aravali operates 15 gypsum mines in Rajasthan.

Sri Lanka: Insee Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to protect limestone hills in the company’s quarrying sites in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ultimate goal of the partnership is to turn the limestone quarrying sites into forests through rehabilitation programmes.

In Sri Lanka, the agreement is intended to strengthen Insee Cement’s capacity to rescue and release threatened wildlife, prepare mine restoration guidelines and carry out annual ecological monitoring of restored mines in Insee Cement’s quarry sites in Aruwakkalu and Puttalam.

“In Sri Lanka we have worked with IUCN since 2007 to ensure conservation in quarry sites, as the partnership is focused on delivering practical solutions which protect Sri Lankan ecosystem. We take pride in meeting the expectations of our local stakeholders and join hands with our group and OpCo’s on the dedicated commitment to enhance forestry and quarry management in Asia,” said Nandana Ekanayak, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Insee Cement.

India: Sanghi Industries has signed a memorandum of interest with the Gujarat state government to expand its Kutch cement plant. It plans to invest around US$213m on the project, according to the Times of Indian newspaper. The plant will be expanded to a cement production capacity of 8.6t/yr from 4Mt/yr. The project is scheduled for completion by 2020 and it will create 350 new jobs.

Russia: Eurocement has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dry Building Mixes Manufacturers Union about using white cement. The deal was signed by Jaroslav Stoupa, the president of production and technical development at Eurocement, and Roman Borisov, the head of the Dry Building Mixes Manufacturers Union, at a trade conference in Moscow. The agreement connects the producers and users of white cement and it allows for the technical exchange of data about the product’s market requirements. It follows Eurocement’s plans to develop a white cement production line at its Zhigulovskiye Stroymaterialy plant in Samara in mid-2019.

Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Tabuk Cement has signed a memorandum of understanding to export 6000t of cement to Yemen. The agreement has a duration of three months.

Taiwan/Turkey: Taiwan Cement and Turkey’s Sanko Holding have signed a memorandum of understanding and a confidentiality clause about the company’s plan to invest in Sanko’s cement business. Taiwan Cement said it would continue talks with the Turkish business group about a strategic partnership and would make details public once the parties sign a definitive contract, according to the Taipei Times newspaper. The cooperation agreement was first announced in June 2018.

China/Russia: Mechel has signed a memorandum for coal supply with China’s Jidong Cement. The Russian mining and metals company will supply the Jidong Cement with up to 3Mt of steam coal mined at Elgaugol’s Elga Open Pit and Yakutugol’s Neryungrinsky Open Pit. Prices will be adjusted on a monthly basis following negotiations and on the basis of index rates.

“Jidong Cement is our longstanding and strategic partner in Asia, and we aim to continue our long-term and mutually profitable partnership. Mechel’s mining division has met all its obligations on our prior agreement. Today, Jidong Cement is the chief foreign consumer of Elga’s steam coal,” said Mechel chief executive officer (CEO) Oleg Korzhov.

Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Industrial Exports Company (SIEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Jouf Cement Company to export its products internationally. The Saudi government lifted a ban on exporting cement in 2016.