Global Cement News

Japan: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering has won the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s highest prize for contributions to industrial decarbonisation, the Minister’s Award, for its development and commercialisation of its CO₂ capture system. The system is based on KS-21 solvent technology, developed in partnership with Kansai Electric Power, and the company’s Advanced KM CDR Process capture model. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering has successfully supported cement industry customers in implementing the system.

Germany: Australia-based FCT Combustion has successfully delivered a new Turbu-Flex burner to replace the existing burner at HeidelbergCement’s Hanover, Lower Saxony, cement plant. FCT Combustion will also supply burner accessories and add-ons, an igniter, a flame sensor, fans, blowers and spare parts. The project aims to improve combustion control and maximise alternative fuel (AF) use in the plant’s cement production.

Philippines: The Philippines Tariff Commission (TC) has launched an investigation into the possible extension of the safeguard measure against imports of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) Type 1 and blended cement Type 1P. The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines previously filed a petition for the extension. The TC will hold its preliminary conference on the matter on 8 March 2022.

The commission said “Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of investigation, appearance of counsel and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents and public file, confidentiality of documents, submission of position paper(s) and memoranda, conduct of inspection and verification of data and schedules of public hearings and other activities.”

Belgium: Cemex has joined the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)’s Corporate Leaders Group Europe in order to lead the corporate transition to a climate neutral economy. The company joins a cross-sectoral body of members from across the EU.

Cemex’s Europe, Middle East and Africa regional president Sergio Menendez said “With its Future in Action programme, Cemex is committed to leading on the road to carbon neutrality. We are proud to join forces with the CISL’s Corporate Leaders Group Europe and other global companies to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment. We look forward to working together with the Corporate Leaders Group Europe to help us all achieve our shared climate action goals in Europe.”

Mexico: GCC has reported that a worker at its Chihuahua cement has died in hospital following an explosion on 25 Feburary which injured five others. The company says that it activated all safety protocols in response to the disaster and coordinated its actions with the responding authorities. It continues to support the investigation into the cause of the blast.

The company said “Unfortunately, one of the six injured died in hospital. We are currently in contact with his family, to whom we have expressed our deepest condolences, and with the families of our other injured collaborators to make all our support and resources available to them at this difficult time.”