Germany: Data from HeidelbergCement’s Sustainability Report 2020 reveals that it reduced its specific net CO₂ emissions by 2% year-on-year to 576kg/t of cementious material in 2020 from 589 kg/t in 2019. This represents a 23% reduction since 1990. The company has a target of 30% by 2025. It has a number of carbon capture and utilisation/storage (CCU/S) projects in various stages of development to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Other data shows that its alternative fuels substitution rate rose to 25.7% from 24% and its clinker ratio fell slightly to 74.3%.

During the reporting year, the group joined the climate lobbying group Foundation 2° and achieving a CDP climate protection rating of A. For water security it secured the second-highest rating of A-. The group’s specific water consumption for cement rose by 5% in 2020 to 271.9l/t of cement from 260l/t in 2019. However the company says it is continuing to improve water consumption reporting at its sites until 2025.

Morocco: LafargeHolcim’s Settat plant has been ranked as the second most efficient integrated cement plant in LafargeHolcim Group. The classification is based on industrial performance criteria in terms of efficiency, cost and sustainable development covering 129 of the group’s integrated plants around the world. Five of the six plants operated by LafargeHolcim Morocco are also reported to be in the Top 20 of this list. The 1.7Mt/yr Settat plant has also become a pilot in the group’s ‘plant of tomorrow" initiative whereby automation technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance will be used to improve its production efficiency further still.

Egypt: Saudi Arabian-based Mohammed Hassan Al Naqool Sons has started pilot production at its Cement Industries subsidiary based in El Alamein. The project has an investment of around US$5m. It will manufacture cement-based products, including blocks and concrete. Commercial production at the site is expected to start in the third quarter of 2021.

Mexico/UK: Cemex has promoted its Vertua admixtures in the UK, with the launch of next generation products in the range. The producer says that Vertua admixtures used in conjunction with its grinding aids, cement enhancers, super plasticisers and accelerators further reduce the carbon footprints of these products. It called green admixtures a ‘fundamental enabler of key innovations’ which will accelerate sustainable urbanisation.

Europe, Middle East and Africa regional urbanisation solutions vice president Marcelo Catalá said, “Cemex’s Vertua range of next generation admixtures, together with our broader array of low carbon, resource-efficient urbanisation solutions, will contribute considerably to building alongside our customers a better and more sustainable future for the cities in which we live.”

Germany: Opterra’s Wössingen integrated cement plant was awarded gold certification status from the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) in late May 2021. It follows the Karsdorf plant achieving the same certification in late 2020.

Peru: Police in Lima have raided a facility in Comas district where workers were packaging adulterated cement into branded cement bags. The La República newspaper has reported that authorities said "We have had the visit of representatives of these cement companies, and they have certified not only that these containers are not original, but also that the final product is not the one they offer to the community."

Sweden: Germany-based Fuchs has signed an agreement to buy the lubricants business of Gleitmo Technik in July 2021. It will be integrated into its Fuchs Lubricants Sweden subsidiary. The acquisition includes the company’s customer base, product portfolio, staff and a lease agreement of the Gleitmo office and warehouse in Kungsbacka. The purchase is intended to make strengthen Fuchs Lubricants Sweden business position in Sweden and the Nordic Region.

Dominican Republic: Germany-based BHS-Sonthofen has supplied an RPM 1513 rotor impact mill to building materials producer Calizamar. The mill consists of a vertical shaft and will produce crushed sand of a consistent fineness and cubic particle shape. Calizamar produces and sells aggregates, natural stone, pre-cast concrete and paper bags.

Turkmenistan: Germany-based Thyssenkrupp has received an order for a new 3000t/day line for the Lebap cement plant from Turkmen Enjam. The Arab Times newspaper has reported that the line will include a raw materials crushing and preparation plant and storage facilities.

Italy: HeidelbergCement subsidiary Italcementi has announced a planned investment of Euro5.0m to restart clinker production at its Trentino cement plant in Sarche di Madruzzo. The plant will have an integrated production capacity of 0.25Mt/yr when it resumes full operation from January 2022. The company aims to establish a ‘reference plant for the Northeast’ at the facility. It will begin hiring 30 new staff in late 2021. The unit has been operating as a grinding plant since 2015.

Technical director Agostino Rizzo said, “The cement plant is equipped with the technologies necessary to guarantee high level environmental performance. To this will be added a landscape integration. The relationship with the region and local communities is of great importance for us.”