Global Cement News

New Zealand: Fletcher Building says that its subsidiary Golden Bay cement is waiting to embark on a US$119 – 178m course of capital expenditure (CAPEX) investment. However, the group said that it will first require ‘clarity from the government’ on any upcoming changes to industrial CO2 emissions allocations or border adjustments.

CEO Ross Taylor said “Until we get certainty there, we really can’t pull the cord.” He added “There’s a good pipeline of existing stuff which will really start maturing in two or three years, but there’s another really sizeable pipeline beyond that.”

Fletcher Building invested a total of US$182m across its businesses during the 2023 financial year, which ended in June 2023. The Bay of Plenty Times newspaper has reported that the investments are part of the group’s growth strategy for the four-year period up to the end of the 2027 financial year. Planned areas for investments include adding value to the group’s wood products by developing its alternative fuel (AF) capacity. The growth strategy has a budget of US$474m.

Pakistan: Pakistani cement producers have achieved 100% coverage of their cement despatches under the country’s track and trace scheme. Pakistan Today News has reported that the scheme collects despatch data for automatic submission to the Federal Board of Revenue. It uses licensed technology from US-based Authentix.

US: Block-Lite plans to install a system to cure concrete blocks using direct air capture (DAC)-sourced CO₂ at its Flagstaff, Arizona, concrete block plant. The upgrade will implement CarbonBuilt’s low-CO₂ concrete production technology and AirCapture’s modular DAC technology, across five or six capture units. Direct air capture will thus remove 500 – 600t/yr of CO₂ from the atmosphere, while process changes will reduce CO₂ emissions from the Flagstaff plant by over 2000t/yr. The project has attracted fundraising from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition (4CCC), with a goal of US$50,000. The Arizon Daily Sun newspaper has reported that Block-Lite plans to supply its first shipment of low-CO₂ blocks to a 50-home development by Habitat for Humanity in Flagstaff.

Europe: The EU has enacted the implementing regulation for the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) under its emissions trading scheme (ETS). Under the CBAM, importers of cement to the EU will eventually pay taxes for its embedded CO₂ emissions, equivalent to those levied against EU-based producers. Importers must begin to collect emissions data from 1 October 2023, and submit a report for the fourth quarter of 2023 to EU authorities by 31 January 2024. No financial adjustment will yet be payable during the transition period to full CBAM implementation from the start of 2026.

The Asset newspaper has reported that dedicated IT tools and training materials for importers affected by the CBAM are currently in development, according to the European Commission.

Mexico: Cemex has updated its sustainability-linked financing framework in line with its latest emissions reduction targets of 475kg/t of CO₂ per tonne of cementitious material. Under the new framework, Cemex will issue up to US$350m-worth of sustainability-linked bonds on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The group plans to use the funds to refinance debt, as well as for ‘general corporate purposes.’ It aims to acheive 85% sustainability-linked financing by 2030.

Cemex said "The proceeds will be used exclusively for eligible green projects in pollution prevention and control, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable water and wastewater management, production technologies and processes adapted to the circular economy and/or eco-efficient products.”