Global Cement News

India: Local press expects UltraTech Cement to be the successful bidder for the 210Mt-capacity Ramstahn Ghunchihai limestone mine in Madhya Pradesh. Sree Jayajothi Cements is the preferred bidder in another auction, for a large limestone quarry in Andhra Pradesh. Nine limestone mines sold at auction in the first half of the 2022 financial year.

India: Ambuja Cement has received validation from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) that its CO₂ reduction targets conform to a well below zero global warming scenario. India Infoline News has reported that Ambuja Cement is committed to a Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO₂ emissions reduction of 21% to 453kg/t of cementitious materials by 2030 from 531kg/t in 2020. Over this period, it aims to reduce Scope 1 emissions by 20% and Scope 2 emissions by 43%.

Ambuja's chief executive officer and managing director Neeraj Akhoury said “We are constantly dedicated and invested in sustainable development and aim to include sustainability in all operational and project planning. With science-based targets developed and validated, Ambuja Cement has now joined the group of global companies promoting an ambitious low carbon economy model for the industry. Being part of the Holcim group and one of the pioneers in the Indian cement industry, we have taken another step towards strengthening our Climate Change adaptability by joining the Race to Zero." He added "Ambuja Cement will continue to implement such best practices and adopt continuous improvement initiatives to achieve our business vision to be most competitive and sustainable company in our industry.

Jamaica: The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce has granted Growth Tech Special Projects a licence to import 50,000t of cement from Turkey before 31 December 2021. The Gleaner newspaper has reported that the nation's other cement importer, Buying House, holds a licence to import 120,000t/yr. Sole producer Caribbean Cement is in the process of expanding its 1Mt/yr Rockfort cement plant's capacity to 1.4Mt/yr.

Finland: The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Finnsementti have revealed work on the Decarbonate project to test a 12m electrically-heated rotary kiln. Other partners on the initiative included Nordkalk and UPM. Precalcination was tested as well as the projection of quick lime. The eventual goal is to use electricity from renewable sources to power the kiln and then capture the CO₂ released for utilisation.

The Decarbonate project has been exploring CO₂ capture and utilisation concepts that can be commercialised. It has run for two years since late 2019 and has funding of Euro1.2m. It has also looked at oxyfuel and electrolysis experiments.

India: Shree Cement has hired FLSmidth to supply a 11,5000t/day kiln line for its planned Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, cement plant. The line will consist of a six-stage preheater and a three-support kiln. The supplier will also deliver an OK vertical roller mill, which it says has a 5 – 10% lower energy consumption than a standard vertical roller mill. The project focuses on sustainable productivity and emissions control. Shree Cement has opted for JetFlex burners to give the lowest possible nitrous oxide emissions for various fuel types.

Shree Cement managing director Prashant Bangur said “Based on the experience of working with FLSmidth on the installation of a 9,000t/day pyro system at the Raipur, Chhattisgarh, cement plant earlier this year, we felt confident about approaching Carsten Riisberg Lund and his team regarding the Rajasthan project.” He added “Being recognised as a Sustainability Champion by the World Economic Forum is a testament of our emphasis on sustainability at every stage of our operations. The new line will push that agenda even further in terms of lowering the benchmarks on energy consumption and emissions, and thereby reducing our environmental footprint.”

FLSmidth also supplied a second OK mill for Shree Cement’s operations in Kolkata, West Bengal.