Global Cement News

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies has announced its financial results for the first half of 2024, showing a marked improvement with revenue reaching €3.3m, a 95.7% year-on-year increase from 2023. Despite a net loss of €5.2m, the company's earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) improved significantly, increasing by €0.6m year-on-year. The company’s cement sales were up 6.7% year-on-year to 7833t. The outlook for the remaining period of 2024 is a breakeven EBITDA and sales of €130m.

Co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "The first half of 2024 was marked by Hoffmann Green's ongoing business development, highlighted by the signing of significant new partnerships with industry leaders. In response to the ongoing slowdown in France's new housing construction sector, the company has diversified its focus toward high-value markets, including renewable energy, waste treatment and B2C retail. The doubling of our revenue, coupled with tight cost control, has led to a significant improvement in EBITDA, which is on track to reach breakeven in 2024. In light of these strong commercial and financial achievements, we reaffirm all of our short- and medium-term financial guidance."

Egypt: A new waste heat recovery system has been inaugurated at Heidelberg Materials Egypt's Helwan Cement plant. The US$30m system is expected to produce 18MW of energy, equating to a saving of 40,000t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

Bangladesh: LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited (LHBL) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with conglomerate PRAN-RFL Group. The agreement focuses on the sustainable disposal of non-biodegradable and non-recyclable materials from PRAN-RFL's food products at LafargeHolcim's Chhatak cement plant in Sunamganj.

Corporate finance director Uzma Chowdhury noted its operation of three recycling plants capable of processing 40,000t/yr of discarded materials. He said "Some materials cannot be recycled. These often mix with soil and water, causing significant environmental harm. This is why we are partnering with LafargeHolcim to ensure that non-recyclable materials are managed in an effective and environmentally friendly manner. Now, non-biodegradable and non-recyclable food products produced by Pran-RFL Group will be managed in a sustainable manner at the LafargeHolcim plant."

CEO of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury said "LafargeHolcim has been working for a zero waste future though its Geocycle wing. Our Chhatak plant is the only integrated cement plant in Bangladesh that produces clinker. This enables us to manage different kinds of ‘waste’ sustainably."

Montenegro: The government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Mining, Oil and Gas plan to construct a new cement plant in Pljevlja at the Jagnjilo site, known for its significant marl deposits. This initiative aims to replace an old landfill, contributing to environmental preservation and harnessing local raw materials for cement production, continuing a legacy that began with a plant operating from 1975 to 1988, according to a statement by the Ministry.

Sweden: Heidelberg Materials' Slite CCS project in Gotland has received new funding. The Just Transition Fund has provided approximately €6.1m to support project preparation from 2024 to 2026, aiming for operational readiness by 2030. The project targets the creation of a fully decarbonised plant with the capacity to capture 1.8Mt/yr of CO₂, potentially reducing Sweden's total emissions by 4%.