Global Cement News

Italy/UK: UK-based carbon capture technology provider Nuada has launched carbon capture trials with Buzzi at its cement facility in Monselice, aiming to accelerate the decarbonisation of the cement industry. The MOF-based VPSA carbon capture plant is now fully operational, capturing 1t/day of CO₂ directly from the facility's stack.

Nuada posted on LinkedIn “Nuada's carbon capture solution is the most energy-efficient developed to date, redefining the decarbonisation landscape for hard-to-abate sectors like cement. Together with Buzzi, we are showcasing the future of carbon capture in the cement industry.”

Switzerland: Neustark has raised US$69m in a growth equity round to scale up its carbon dioxide removal technology. The funding, led by Decarbonisation Partners—a collaboration between BlackRock and Temasek—will support Neustark's aim to permanently remove 1Mt of CO₂ by 2030. Climate tech growth investor Blume Equity also joined the round, alongside existing backers Holcim, Siemens Financial Services, Verve Ventures and ACE Ventures.

Neustark has developed a technology that captures biogenic CO₂ at its source and utilises it in building materials through an accelerated mineralisation process. This method is currently applied at 19 carbon capture and storage plants in Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany, with 40 more under construction across Europe.

Johannes Tiefenthaler, co-CEO and founder at Neustark, said “We turn the world’s largest waste stream, demolition concrete, into a carbon sink. In the past year, we have already deployed our unique solution at 19 sites. This growth investment will take us into the next exciting phase of our mission, helping us to further scale our impact across Europe, enter new markets in North America and Asia Pacific, and develop new solutions to store even more CO₂ in mineral waste streams.”

Uganda: Richard Todwong, leader of the National Resistance Movement party, launched his Karamoja mobilisation tour at the clinker cement plant in Moroto District on 24 June 2024. The plant is owned by West International Holding, a subsidiary of China West Cement, and is currently under construction. Once operational in 2025, it will produce about 6000t/day of clinker and cement, according to New Vision. The project is valued at US$300m, spanning 81 hectares and employing over 1000 people in the Karamoja sub-region. Uganda imports over 50% of its clinker supply and this project will reportedly support the government’s import substitution initiative by allowing for local manufacture of clinker.

Egypt: South Valley Cement has reported a net loss of US$959,000 for the first quarter of 2024, decreasing from a loss of US$768,000 in the same period in 2023. The company generated revenues amounting to US$6.8m in the January-March 2024 period, compared to US$7m in 2023. The company's financial results from 1 January to 31 March 2024 reveal ongoing challenges, with increased operational costs and reduced demand impacting the sector significantly.

Madagascar: Atlantic Group has begun construction of a new cement plant in Tamatava, which will have a capacity of 500,000t/yr and create over 1000 jobs. The plant will span nine hectares, employing primarily local residents, and use ‘advanced’ technology to minimise CO₂ emissions, according to Fraternité Matin newspaper. Supported by the Malagasy authorities and president, the Madagascan Cement Company will commence operations in the second quarter of 2025.