Germany: Holcim Deutschland has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cool Planet Technologies (CPT) to build a pilot CO₂ capture unit at Holcim’s Höver cement works, near Hannover, based on Hereon’s PolyActive membrane technology. The objective of the unit is to demonstrate the performance, economics and operability of the capture technology at scale. Following this the partners will seek to establish a framework for the technology’s implementation in Holcim’s other cement plants in Germany.

Initial tests are scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2022 with the first phase of the project, capturing 5600t/yr of CO₂, scheduled for start-up in the second quarter of 2023. If successful, it is planned to expand the unit in two further phases capturing 170,000t/yr and 1.3Mt/yr starting-up in 2024 and 2026 respectively. The final phase will capture over 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions from the Höver plant and deliver the CO₂ in high-purity liquid form for use or sequestration.

CPT is working with Hereon, part of the Helmholtz Association of Research Centres, Germany’s largest research organisation, to commercialise their PolyActive membrane technology after a decade of development. This technology is designed to capture CO₂ from carbon rich gas streams and has already been technically proven in the laboratory and piloted in two coal-fired power stations.

France: Vicat says it aims to start cultivating spirulina at its Montalieu-Vercieu cement plant in the summer of 2022 as part of its Cimentalgue project. It plans to grow 1t/yr until 2024 as part of a trial looking at volume and quality, according to the Agence France Presse. It will use CO₂ and waste heat from the plant to grow the cyanobacteria that can be used as a food source.

The project is being conducted with Algosource and the GEPEA (Process Engineering for Environment and Food) laboratory at the University of Nantes. TotalEnergies is also involved as a financial backer. The project has a budget of Euro2m and is also supported by the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).

France: Ireland-based Ecocem has opened its new innovation centre, the Centre of Excellence, in Paris. The purpose of the facility is to help to accelerate the development of new technology for the decarbonisation of the cement and construction industries. Ecocem's innovation team will use it for industrial-scale trials in collaboration with industry and academic partners, including Paris-Saclay University and The University of Toulouse. It says that it hopes that one outcome will be the further developmentof the Ecocem reduced-CO₂ product range. Breakthrough Energy Ventures provided funding towards the centre's construction.

Ecocem innovation director Laurent Frouin said “Ecocem is committed to the deep and rapid decarbonisation of the global cement industry. It is essential for the planet and future generations, and it can be achieved through innovation and technology." He added “The cement and construction industries are developing and deploying a range of emission reduction technologies – Ecocem and our new Centre of Excellence will add a further dimension to these efforts.”

Ukraine: NEQSOL Holding Ukraine has filed an application to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) to acquire a stake in Ivano-Frankivskcement. The group will take a loan from ‘leading international’ banks to pay for the stake.

NEQSOL Holding Ukraine manager Volodymyr Lavrenchuk, said “We are hopeful for an approval of the new deal by the AMCU so that we can welcome the high-tech enterprise Ivano-Frankivskсement into the NEQSOL Holding group of companies. We recognise the long-time outstanding results achieved by the Ivano-Frankivskсement management team and staff, who have created one of the most state-of-the-art cement plants in Europe.” He added “Our group of companies has successful experience in financing, including engagement of international financial institutions, which will help to secure the required investments for maintaining a high rate of growth of the cement plant.”

India: Penna Cement has received clearance for a US$207m initial public offering (IPO). The company will offer a US$33.3m stake for sale along with the fresh issue of US$173m. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the company plans to use US$73.3m of the fresh capital to settle its debts and to invest US$14m in the construction of second line at its Krishnapatnam grinding plant Andhra Pradesh. It will invest a further US$10.7m in an upgrade to raw material and clinker grinding mills at its Talaricheruvu cement plant, also in Andhra Pradesh.

Pakistan: The government of the Punjab will charge cement producers in the state up to US$0.93/m³ for ground water used in their cement production. The Dawn newspaper has reported that the charge will depend on water availability, and be US$0.6/m³ in water secure areas, US$0.85/m³ in semi-critical areas and US$0.93/m³ in critical areas most affected by drought. The measure aims to encourage rainwater harvesting in order to preserve water tables. The charges will fall upon Maple Leaf Cement, Gharibwal Cement, Dandot Cement, Flying Cement, Askari Cement and Fauji Cement. They will remain in force until the establishment of a Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority and its enactment of water extraction rates.

Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidad Cement has launched production of its new reduced-CO2 cement, called ECO, at its Claxton Bay cement plant. Trinidad & Tobago Government News has reported that the company invested US$73,800 in the development of the product.

UK: 200 Hanson UK cement truck drivers have ended a one-month strike after accepting an improved pay deal. Construction Enquirer News has reported that the producer has retroactively increased drivers’ pay by 2.8% from 1 January 2021 and agreed to increase pay by a further 3.3% from 1 January 2022. Drivers’ overnight allowance will retroactively increase to Euro49.7/night from 1 October 2021, and the company has committed to a transformation of bank holiday working arrangements. Additionally, its management will share its fleet replacement programme with its drivers.

Spain: Corporación Noroeste has completed its acquisition of Cementos Balboa. The companies agreed to the deal in June 2021. Agencia EFE News has reported that the acquisition brings parent company Votorantim Cimentos’ installed cement capacity to 57.4Mt/yr globally.

Nepal: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has completed and commissioned a switching station to supply power for Huaxin Cement and Vaidya Group’s upcoming Dhading cement plant in Rorang. The Republic newspaper has reported that, when operational, the plant will receive 20MW of power via the switching station. Two transmission lines with capacities of 33kV and 11kV connect the facilities.

The US$125m Dhading cement plant awaits commissioning following the completion of its construction in August 2021.