Iraq: Al-Diyar Al-Iraqia for Investments Company and Northern Region Cement have concluded a deal under which the former will acquire a 49% stake in the cement producer’s business in Iraq. Argaam News has reported the value of the deal as US$44m. Northern Region Cement said that the new strategic partnership would help it to further expand its investments in the promising market. It will use the proceeds of the deal to repay loans and for ‘external investments.’

Northern Region Cement plans to build a US$139m, 1.32Mt/yr integrated cement plant at an unspecified location in Iraq.

Europe: Ireland CRH announced the completion of its divestment of its lime operations in the Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland on 4 January 2024. The deal marks the first phase of the group’s divestment of its entire European lime business, for US$1.1bn.

Saudi Arabia: Utilities provider Saudi Aramco has notified Saudi Arabian cement producers of a rise in the price of its feedstock and fuel products from 1 January 2024. Zawya News has reported that Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company forecast the effect of the price rise to be a 1.2% increase in producers’ cost of sales in 2024.

Yanbu Cement said “The impact of changing the price of fuel products will lead to an increase in the cost of production.” Umm Al-Qura Cement echoed the concern, while Saudi Cement Company said that it is working out the extent of the financial impact and will study ways to mitigate it.

Germany: Switzerland-based CO₂ mineralisation technology developer Neustark says that it sees major potential for recycling concrete from construction and demolition waste (CDW) to produce carbon-negative products using its process in Germany. Neustark inaugurated its first German plant, and 12th overall, at Marzahn in Berlin in late 2023. Capital Online News has reported that the start-up estimates that Germany generates 60Mt/yr of CDW concrete, but only recycles 600,000t/yr (1%). This contrasts with international CDW concrete recycling rates as high as 15% in Switzerland and the US.

The start-up, founded at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in 2019, currently absorbs 10kg/t of CO₂ in its recycled materials, but aims to reach 60kg/t. Its investors include Holcim.