Displaying items by tag: Transport
Oficemen and Enagás’ new collaboration to include development of carbon capture and storage economy
02 February 2024Spain: The Spanish cement manufacturers' association, Oficemen, has signed a two-year co-operation agreement with utilities provider Enagás. Under the agreement, the pair will explore decarbonisation techniques and solutions, including the development of infrastructure for transporting captured CO2, as well as hydrogen and oxygen. Oficemen members reduced their total CO2 emissions by 44% between 1990 and 2022. Europa Press News has reported that Oficemen believes that carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be crucial in realising the industry’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. Oficemen became the first industrial association in Spain to publish a net zero roadmap in 2020.
Swiss cement shipments drop in 2023
18 January 2024Switzerland: Swiss cement shipments dropped by 10% year-on-year to 3.7Mt in 2023, from 4.1Mt in 2022. Shipments declined across all quarters, including by 10% quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter. Cement with a reduced clinker factor grew to account for 96% of shipments from 95%, and rail shipments rose to 38%. Ready-mixed concrete plants received 73% of shipments, and building sites 21%.
The Swiss cement association, Cemsuisse, said that it anticipates continued uncertainties and high import pressures in 2024.
Tarmac digitises its rail logistics with Everysens
15 January 2024UK: CRH subsidiary Tarmac has successfully deployed France-based software developer Everysens’ Transport Visibility & Management System (TVMS) in its total operations processing system (TOPS) for rail transport. The TVMS digitally tracks trains, enabling the customer to measure performance, analyse patterns and ensure smooth anticipation and collaboration between stakeholders. Tarmac expects the upgrade to streamline its delivery monitoring and also allow for proactive decision-making.
Tarmac head of rail Chris Swan said "Everysens' integration with TOPS has significantly supported Tarmac to digitise its rail freight operations. Tracking our freight trains has become a lot easier and more precise through digital solutions. With real-time ETA data, we can optimise routes, manage resources, and provide an even higher level of service to our customers. This integration underscores our commitment to staying ahead in technology and embracing digitisation for more efficient and streamlined operations."
Heidelberg Materials sells French cement transport business
11 January 2024France: Heidelberg Materials has completed its divestment of its French cement transport business, Tratel, to multiple local players. Tratel controls 450 trucks and around 770 trailers across France. Groupe Garnier has taken it over in the north western and Île-de-France, e-b-trans in south eastern and south western France, Groupe DESERT in western France and T2GL in eastern France, while Heidelberg Materials France continues to manage order intake, chartering and dispatch activities. Heidelberg Materials says that the move advances its portfolio optimisation strategy, which involves increasing its focus on core businesses.
India: UltraTech Cement has deployed five electric clinker trucks at its Dhar cement plant in Madhya Pradesh. Asian News International has reported that the trucks will convey clinker to the producer’s Dhule grinding plant in Maharashtra. The company expects the trucks to reduce its CO2 emissions by 680t/yr.
UltraTech Cement is committed to electrifying 500 vehicles across its operations by the end of June 2025.
Heidelberg Materials secures funding for Geseke cement plant GeZero carbon capture project
18 December 2023Germany: The European Union Innovation Fund has awarded Heidelberg Materials Euro191m in funding to support its development of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain at Geseke cement plant in North Rhine-Westphalia. The planned project, called GeZero, involves the construction of an oxyfuel kiln, capture system and train transport infrastructure. Having received the funding, Heidelberg Materials and its partners will commence work in January 2024. They will subsequently scale the capture system to 700,000t/yr and build pipelines to transport CO2. Energy provider Wintershall Dea will receive the CO2 at its upcoming coastal hub for processing and storage below the North Sea.
Heidelberg Materials Germany general manager Christian Knell said “Together with our partners, we walk the talk and pave the way for CCS in Germany. GeZero will complement our global project portfolio with a truly unique approach. We are developing a promising novel solution for inland cement sites, with the intention to inspire industry peers and other emission-intensive sectors to follow.”
Global chief custainability officer Nicola Kimm said “The successful grant agreement demonstrates the relevance of GeZero for the decarbonisation of our sector, and the trust that European authorities place in our approach.”
Planned railway to support Kazakh cement exports to Kyrgyzstan
21 November 2023Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan: The government of Kazakhstan’s Jambyl Region says that investors have come forward to support construction of a proposed railway between the region and Kyrgyzstan. Central Asia News has reported that a major cement plant construction project is underway in Jambyl Region. Regional governor Yerbol Karashukeyev said that Kyrgyzstan is undergoing a ‘building boom,’ including in the major market of Bishkek, 20km from the border with Jambyl Region.
Karashukeyev said “In view of the rapid development of the market in Kyrgyzstan and the production of large volumes of construction materials in Kazakhstan, it is worth developing cooperation.”
Emirates Cement (Arkan) awards Omani limestone haulage contract to Oman and Etihad Rail Company
17 October 2023UAE: Emirates Cement (Arkan) has appointed Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OER) to provide train transport for imported Omani limestone to its 1Mt/yr Al Ain cement plant.
Saeed Khalfan Al Ghafri, CEO of Emirates Cement (Arkan)’s parent company, Emirates Steel Arkan Group, said “Our collaboration with OER enhances our supply chain capabilities by leveraging the railway network that connects both countries. This agreement paves the way for integrated logistics solutions for transporting raw materials to and from our cement plant in Al Ain, boosting operational efficiencies and cost-effectiveness and reducing environmental impact.”
UK: Holcim subsidiary Aggregate Industries has installed Driver Status Monitoring Systems supplied by Spillard Vehicle Safety Systems in the cabins of its Cauldon cement plant truck fleet. The systems use cameras and AI software to detect signs of tiredness, as well as mobile phone use, lane deviation, not wearing a seatbelt and smoking. In the case of tiredness, this triggers an alarm which continues to sound until the vehicle comes to a stop.
Cement supply chain manager Matt Owen said “Health and safety is a massive priority for us as a company and the industry, so anything that can serve to continuously improve our approach to it is very welcome. Driver fatigue is always a potential issue across any business involved in transport and fleet, so we’re delighted to be utilising the latest technology with our partners to ensure that everyone gets safely home from work.”
India: JSW Cement is conducting a pilot project in the use of electric vehicles for cement transportation. The producer has introduced five Murugappa electric cement trucks into its fleet in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It expects these to eliminate 150t/yr of CO2 emissions from its logistics operations.
Daijiworld News has reported that CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The pilot project is an important milestone in making our future much greener and more purposeful.” He added “Based on the success of these pilot trials, we will scale-up the integration of these trucks across our cement operations in India.”