Displaying items by tag: US

US: Representatives of the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and its members are meeting politicians at Congress to discuss cement sector decarbonisation on 12 and 13 June 2024. The PCA says that meetings will address permitting processes and new emission standards affecting the industry.

PCA president and CEO Mike Ireland said "There's a lot happening in Washington this year that directly impacts America's cement manufacturers, which is likely why we have a record turnout of cement company leadership in town for this fly-in. Our industry's top objective is to reach carbon neutrality. While our companies appreciate recent funding from the Department of Energy to assist in decarbonisation efforts, it's still challenging for them to make significant advancements due to a cumbersome permitting system and unrealistic Environmental Protection Agency regulations that could lead to eventual cuts in plant operations and staffing. As the infrastructure law is hitting its stride, the country needs more cement and concrete, not less. We're here to ask Congress to work with us to arrive at reasonable policies and standards that will allow manufacturers to continue to provide the resilient, sustainable building materials our country has come to expect."

North America: The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has recognised Cemex’s conservation efforts in Mexico and the US with awards for four of its projects. These included its restoration of desert habitats at Cerro Jardín, Xoyatla and Coayuca in Atotonilco, Mexico. Cemex said that all of the projects advance its Future in Action strategy of sustainable excellence through circularity, climate action and water and biodiversity management, in line with becoming a net zero company by 2050.

US: Cemex and Clean Energy Fuels have entered into a fuelling agreement to supply renewable natural gas (RNG) to 39 of Cemex US’s ready-mix and cement bulk trucks in Southern California. The agreement is projected to provide around 1.1Ml/yr of RNG. Cemex plans to complete the project by the end of 2024 and start fuelling the trucks on-site soon after.

Francisco Rivera, Cemex US Regional President West Region, said "As leaders in the building materials industry, we recognise the pivotal role we play in building a more sustainable future. Embracing renewable fuels isn't just an option; it's an imperative.”

Canada/US: Béton Provincial has concluded a transaction with CRH Canada Group to acquire several assets located in Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador and New York.

President of Béton Provincial André Bélanger said "This significant milestone highlights the journey undertaken by Béton Provincial since its foundation in Quebec in 1960. We are very proud to see that a 100% Canadian-owned company is now making its mark alongside the major multinational players in its industry.”

Algeria: Algeria has initiated the export of 46,000t of cement to the US, overseen by Trade Minister Tayeb Zitouni at the port of Annaba.

Minister Tayeb Zitouni said “This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to develop and diversify Algerian exports to foreign markets. This demonstrates the government's commitment to increasing and diversifying our exports. We are also committed to supporting export businesses and streamlining administrative procedures to promote sector growth.”

US: Eagle Materials will modernise and expand its Laramie, Wyoming cement plant, increasing its capacity by 50% to approximately 1.2Mt/yr. The expansion includes a new cement distribution facility in northern Colorado. This project aims to cut manufacturing costs by about 25%, generated by the replacement of traditional fuels with lower cost alternative fuels and natural gas, as well as improved operating efficiency. This upgrade will also reduce CO₂ intensity by nearly 20%, according to the company. The US$430m investment also includes upgrading the existing plant, which became operational in 1927 and currently has a capacity of 800,000t/yr. Construction is set to begin immediately, with completion expected in the second half of 2026.

Spain: Molins has launched a new corporate identity, consolidating its commercial brands—Cementos Molins Industrial, Promsa, Propamsa, Pretersa-Prenavisa and Precon—into the single Molins brand. This move represents a broad array of construction products and solutions under one unified identity. In line with this, Molins also introduces Susterra, a new range of sustainable solutions.

CEO Julio Rodríguez said "Cement is the foundation of this company, accounting for 60% of our current business. However, today we are a company that offers a wide range of construction solutions, and our long-term strategy is to continue growing in all types of construction solutions to provide increasingly better service to our customers."

US: Holcim’s Hagerstown plant in Maryland has increased its alternative fuels substitution rate to 45%, equivalent to 58,000t/yr of engineered fuel. This US$11m initiative utilises end-of-life materials like non-recyclable paper, plastics and fibres, sourced from commercial and industrial materials like packaging. Geocycle, a subsidiary of Holcim US, will process these materials at its new Cumberland facility, which has a capacity of up to 75,000t/yr.

Senior vice president of Manufacturing North for Holcim US, Michael Nixon, said "Expanding our alternative thermal energy use to 45% provides multiple environmental and economic benefits, from lowering the net carbon intensity of our cement to reducing our consumption of traditional fuels. Importantly, it enables us to play a role in the circular economy, offering a highly safe and ecological solution for unused materials."

US: Sublime Systems has announced the first-ever commercial application of its low-carbon Sublime Cement product at WS Development’s One Boston Wharf building in Massachusetts. The concrete placement is located in the Paseo indoor public space at the office building. The floor will be marked with educational materials explaining the significance of decarbonised cement in combating global climate change.

Leah Ellis, the CEO and Co-Founder of Sublime Systems, said “Buildings are monuments to the values of the people who build them, and the One Boston Wharf project represents WS Development’s leadership in ushering in our post-carbon future.” She continued “They are creating not only the building but the world where people want to be. We are honoured to have Sublime Cement featured so prominently here and are confident this pioneering place will inspire infrastructure owners everywhere to embrace low-embodied-carbon materials as a powerful tool for achieving our global net-zero goals.”

US: Cemex has entered an off-site renewable energy agreement for its Clinchfield Cement Plant with Georgia Power, securing about 25% of its power from solar facilities throughout the state, starting in 2025. The plant will offset roughly 10,000t/yr of indirect CO₂ emissions, contributing to a 58% reduction target in Scope 2 GHG emissions from its 2020 levels by 2030.

Senior Vice President of Cemex US Ernesto Felix said "Embracing solar power not only accelerates our own aggressive sustainability goals but also sets a powerful example for the entire industry. By integrating renewable energy solutions through Georgia Power, Cemex paves the way for a greener, more resilient future for generations to come."