Germany: Rock Tech Lithium has signed a memorandum of understanding with Schwenk Zement to utilise lithium production by-products from Rock Tech’s Guben converter for use in cement manufacturing at Schwenk's facilities. The primary objective of the partnership is to develop industrial applications for residues generated from Rock Tech's lithium-hydroxide production, specifically spodumene leach residues. During initial studies conducted by the Institute of Technologies and Economics of Lithium, the leach residues demonstrated potential as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for use in cement manufacturing, offering benefits such as reduced carbon emissions and cost savings.

The partnership aims to process up to 200,000t/yr of by-products by 2029, with Schwenk planning investments in drying, grinding and storage facilities for the leach residues.

Johann Trenkwalder, member of the management board of Schwenk Germany, said "Ensuring the future supply of sufficient quantities of high-quality cement grinding materials is of great strategic importance for Schwenk. The leached spodumene concentrate produced during the operation of the planned converter in Guben represents an interesting and regionally-available source of SCMs."

Spain: Cement consumption in Spain rose by 3% in 2024 after two consecutive years of decline, reaching 14.9Mt, according to the latest data from Oficemen.

The figure represents an increase of 0.42Mt compared to 2023, though remains similar to 2021-2022 levels. Oficemen projects 5% growth for 2025.

Alan Svaiter, Oficemen chair, said "These figures confirm the positive progression in cement consumption during the second half of 2025, following a challenging start with negative numbers".

Consumption remained behind that of 2023 until October 2024, when it showed 1% growth, before reaching the final 3% year-end figure.

India: JK Cement has won a bid for 250Mt of limestone reserves in Lakhpat Punrajpur, Kutch, Gujarat, through a Request for Proposal from Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation. The reserves are expected to supply the company with raw materials for the next 40 years.

JK Cement Group president Amit Kothari said "This strategic partnership not only strengthens our resource base, but also highlights our focus on ensuring a steady supply of premium raw materials for high-quality cement production.”

France: Ecocem will build its first production facility dedicated to ACT, its low-carbon cement technology, at its Dunkirk site. The new site will be operational by 2026 with an initial capacity of 300,000t/yr of ACT.

The expansion will increase the plant's total production capacity to beyond 1Mt/yr and strengthen Ecocem’s operations in northern France, Paris and export markets. The first half of 2025 will see the installation of the key component of the facility, the mill, which will produce the required fillers, as well as expansion of blending and storage facilities. ACT is expected to be delivered to the market in the second half of 2026.

The total investment for the expansion is €50m, funded through a ‘green loan’ from the EthiFinance agency and supported by the French government and local authorities. France 2030's ‘Première Usine’ initiative also awarded a €3.6m grant, with additional grants from the Hauts-de-France Region and Dunkirk Urban Community.

Ecocem will partner with limestone supplier CB Green for the commercial production and delivery of ACT at the Dunkirk site.