Global Cement News

Greece: Heracles, part of the Holcim Group, has signed a front-end engineering design contract (FEED) with Air Liquide for CO₂ capture, liquefaction, storage and dispatch facilities at the Heracles plant in Milaki, as part of the Olympus carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. The project will enable the plant to capture and store 1Mt/yr of CO₂ and is scheduled for full operation in 2029. The captured CO₂ will be liquefied and transported by sea to the offshore sequestration facility in Prinos in the northern part of the Aegean Sea.

UK/Ireland: France-based Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has launched a strategic licensing agreement with UK partner Cemblend, furthering its international expansion strategy. The deal builds on an existing partnership established in 2022 for the launch of Hoffmann’s 0% clinker cements, with the partners aiming to accelerate the decarbonisation of the construction sectors in the UK and Ireland. Under the terms of the agreement, Hoffmann Green will receive up to €2m in entry fees and annual royalties tied to the sales of Hoffmann cements and premixes. Cemblend will construct production units in the UK to support the rising demand for sustainable building materials.

Thomas Atkinson, international director of Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, said “2024 marks a key period in Hoffmann Green's international development. After signing a strategic partnership in the US and strengthening our development in Saudi Arabia, this new licensing agreement provides us with ambitious new perspectives on the European market.”

India: JK Cement has laid the foundation stone for a new grinding unit in Buxar, Bihar, at a cost of US$58.7m. With a capacity of 3Mt/yr, the unit is expected to increase the company’s production capacity to over 30Mt/yr by 2025, from the current 24.3Mt/yr, according to Biltrax Media.

Raghavpat Singhania, managing director of JK Cement, said "The new facility will not only enhance JK Cement's reach across India but also contribute to the overall infrastructural and economic development of Bihar.”

Japan: Fortera is collaborating with Sumitomo Corporation to introduce its ReCarb technology in Asia, starting with Japan. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to deploy Fortera’s bolt-on ‘low-to-zero-carbon’ cement plants across the region, focusing on the largest cement manufacturers.

Fortera’s ReCarb process converts industrial CO₂ directly from cement production into cement that is reportedly third-party verified as having 70% less embodied carbon tonne-for-tonne than ordinary Portland cement. When paired with renewable energy, Fortera can achieve zero-CO₂ cement production.

Ryan Gilliam, CEO of Fortera, said "This partnership is a pivotal moment for the future of sustainable cement production, because you can’t make a meaningful impact on the industry’s carbon emissions without partnering with major industry players in Asia, which is home to the largest cement market in the world."

India: A Bangalore-based startup formed at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed an ‘eco-friendly’ cement alternative using geopolymer technology. The product claims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 21.5kg/m² of pavers produced compared to ordinary Portland cement, according to The Economic Times. It also claims to eliminate water use and offer a 15-20% cost advantage. The product achieves full strength in just three days, compared to the 28 days required for Portland cement.

Nanjunda Rao, one of four cofounders of Novacret and chief research scientist at IISc, said “The benefits are significant, geopolymer-based materials achieve full strength in just three days in tropical climates like India, compared to the 28 days required for Portland cement.”