Thailand: At COP29 in Azerbaijan, the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Environment, the Global Cement and Concrete Association and United Nations Industrial Development, showcased the achievements of the ‘Saraburi Sandbox’ project. Notable successes include more than 80% of construction projects in Saraburi now using hydraulic cement, the cement industry increasing its use of alternative fuels and renewable energy to 26%, and a pilot project for growing crops like Napier grass for use as alternative fuels in cement production. These developments are key to implementing the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete roadmap.

Portugal: Cimpor recently celebrated the 50^th anniversary of its Souselas plant, which has been operational since November 1974. The plant was initially launched with a production capacity of 500,000t/yr of clinker, but has since adapted to meet market demand.

Throughout its five decades of operation, the Souselas plant has produced over 69Mt of clinker and processed approximately 667,000t of alternative fuels. Current projects include the rehabilitation of Line 2 for producing calcined clays, installing photovoltaic plants and focusing on co-processing and heat recovery initiatives, with the aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The anniversary event showcased recent projects, such as the installation of a 1MW photovoltaic plant and the planned introduction of a 10MW plant by 2025. Additionally, a 7.4MW waste heat recovery system will commence operation in February 2025 and a 10MW hydrogen plant is scheduled for 2026.

Pakistan: In November 2024, there was a 6% increase in total cement despatches, reaching 4.15Mt compared to 3.93Mt in November of the previous fiscal year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).

Local cement despatches during November 2024 were 3.34Mt, reflecting a 2% year-on-year increase from 3.27Mt in November 2023. Exports rose by 21% year-on-year, from 662,374t in November 2023 to 803,258 tonnes in November 2024. However, the first five months of the current fiscal year saw a 5% decline in total cement despatches, amounting to 18.8Mt, down from 19.8Mt during the same period last fiscal year. Domestic despatches fell by 12% to 14.8Mt, while exports experienced a 29% year-on-year increase, reaching 4.02Mt.

An APCMA spokesperson noted that domestic cement sales could improve if the government reduced duties and taxes, which would lower consumer costs and boost demand, helping to utilise the sector's idle capacity.

Norway: SLB Capturi has reached mechanical completion of the carbon capture unit at Heidelberg Materials' cement plant in Brevik. The unit includes the carbon capture system, compression system, heat integration system, intermediate storage, and loadout facilities. The plant is now ready for testing and commissioning. The carbon capture plant is designed to capture up to 0.4Mt/yr of CO₂ from one production line at the cement plant. When operational, this world-first commercial-scale carbon capture plant at a cement plant will enable production of an amount of net-zero cement, without compromising on the product strength or quality. SLB Capturi is a joint venture between SLB and Aker Carbon Capture.

"Reaching this milestone is a testament to the power of working together and the collective determination to make a positive climate impact," said Egil Fagerland, CEO of SLB Capturi. "We look forward to continuing these collaborative efforts as we move toward the commissioning and operational phases of the project. The Brevik CCS plant sets a precedent for future carbon capture initiatives, where learnings and insights from this groundbreaking project enable others to follow."

"The mechanical completion of the Brevik CCS project is a landmark achievement in the decarbonisation journey of the cement industry,” said Giv Brantenberg, general manager Northern Europe, Heidelberg Materials. “This project exemplifies our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of solutions that address the pressing issue of climate change. We are immensely proud of the dedication and hard work of our teams and partners who have made this possible."