Germany: Inform is restructuring its Building Materials Logistics division with the establishment of Inform Evotess, a new independent company within the Inform Group which it says will bundle and further develop all building materials logistics activities. The new entity combines more than 35 years of industry experience with the agility of a specialised unit, according to the company. Evotess will continue to draw on Inform’s international network, technological expertise and experience while creating additional room to improve existing solutions and develop new products. The new company will be managed by Thomas Bergmans and Lars Lambrecht.

“With Evotess, we are giving a successful and highly specialised business area the right organisational framework for its next stages of development,” said Andreas Meyer, Co-CEO of Inform. “Building materials logistics have developed strongly over many years. With the new company, this expertise remains closely connected to Inform while gaining even more focus in the market.”

Pakistan: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has restricted Kohat Cement from operating its coal-fired power plant, citing ‘serious’ environmental and public health risks to nearby residents, according to The Express Tribune. The court also issued notices to the provincial government, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Health Department, and other concerned parties. In its written order, the court directed the EPPA to constitute an inspection team to examine the coal power plant in accordance with environmental laws and rules. The team has been ordered to submit a detailed report to the court within 15 days.

The cement plant is located close to residential areas in Babri Banda, with the coal power plant being constructed just 200m away. The lawyer contended that the existing cement plantasia is already causing pollution, and the addition of the coal power plant would worsen air quality and lead to the spread of ‘various diseases’ in the area. The court observed that, while the coal power plant is intended to supply electricity to the industrial unit, its operation is likely to have adverse effects on the health of local residents. According to the order, the project has already commenced work and is emitting pollution beyond the limits prescribed under environmental laws. The court was informed that, although an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) was approved earlier, the plant cannot commence operations without obtaining the necessary post-construction operational approval from the EPA, which has reportedly not been granted. The court ordered that the parties shall not operate the coal power plant without obtaining the required approval from the EPA. All parties have been directed to strictly comply with the court's orders.

China: A fleet of LiuGong DW105AE electric wide-body trucks has been deployed at one of Conch Cement’s mines in south China, as part of its efforts to operate ‘zero-carbon mines.’ The vehicles have a rated load of 70t and are equipped with a fully hydraulic load-sensitive steering system. They are also equipped with mining power batteries. The truck has a 500kW motor for increased traction and a large displacement pump to improve lifting time.

In 2025, Conch Cement said “Conch Cement actively responded to the national ‘Dual Carbon’ goal, accelerated the pace of electrification of transportation equipment, and systematically promoted the strategic transformation of construction machinery from diesel-driven to electric-driven. In 2025, the electrification rate of transportation equipment increased to more than 25%, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.5%.”

Ethiopia: The Africa Dialogue on Cement for Green Industrialisation concluded with a call to accelerate practical action on low-carbon cement and concrete as Africa enters a period of urban growth and infrastructure development. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia and jointly organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) Net Zero Partnership for Industrial Decarbonisation, together with the GCCA and other organisations. It brought together more than 110 participants from 39 countries, including cement producers, government representatives, industry associations, research institutions and others.

UNIDO said that around 80% of Africa’s 2050 building stock is yet to be constructed and the continent’s cement production is therefore expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. The event focused on solutions that are already available and can be scaled, including reducing the clinker content of cement through supplementary cementitious materials and calcined clay cement, increasing the use of alternative fuels and improving material efficiency. Participants visited Habesha Cement plant on the first day.

Stephen Kargbo, director of the UNIDO sub-regional office and representative to Ethiopia, the African Union and UNECA, said “Every bag of cement we choose today is a vote for the kind of Africa we will live in tomorrow. The decisions we make today will lock in emissions for the next half century. If we embed low-carbon norms now, Africa can industrialise sustainably, attract green investment and equip its youth with the skills to lead tomorrow's construction sector."