Global Cement News

Croatia: Luka Ploce has acquired Zagreb-based New Concrete Technologies for €3m. The acquisition was formally reported to the Croatian Financial Services Supervision Agency (HANFA). New Concrete Technologies specialises in cement mixing, testing and grading.

The company said “This strategic acquisition aligns with Luka Ploce's goals to consolidate its cement infrastructure and expand into new markets, enhancing its capabilities in cement and technical waterway maintenance sectors.”

France: Holcim has committed €200m over the past three years to decarbonise its French manufacturing sites. This initiative is part of a roadmap signed with the French government in November 2023, aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions by over 50% by 2030 and 95% by 2050 compared to 2015 levels.

At the 7th Choose France summit on 13 May 2024, Holcim announced an additional investment of €64m for developing new technological and industrial platforms across its seven French plants located in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, Martres-Tolosane, Port-la-Nouvelle, Val d'Azergues, Le Teil, Altkirch and La Malle. These platforms, set to be operational between 2025 and 2026, will focus on CO₂ capture technology (€9m at Martres Tolosane), integration of construction waste in cement processes (€24m across all plants), and the use of biomass waste fuels (€13m at Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, €11m at Martres-Tolosane, and €1m at Port-la-Nouvelle). An additional €6m will be allocated to recycling and transformation platforms for construction waste in five urban areas: Laval, Le Havre, Martres-Tolosane, Orange and Lyon.

These investments are expected to reduce Holcim's CO₂ emissions in France by over 120,000t/yr and create more than 40 jobs.

India: Ambuja Cements has launched a new bulk cement vessel unloader at Karanja Port. This installation will facilitate swift movement of cement from the Sanghipuram plant to Mumbai.

The new unloader will increase the capacity utilisation of the Sanghipuram plant. This move is part of Ambuja Cements' strategy to optimise operational efficiency and reduce logistical challenges.

Spain: Cemex has announced the definitive closure of its clinker production kilns at the Lloseta plant, aligning its operations with the global 'Future in Action' programme that targets carbon neutrality by 2050.

The company has confirmed its plans to the government and the Lloseta City Council to dismantle the two cyclone towers at the Lloseta plant by 31 December 2030. While clinker production will cease, the site will continue to engage in grinding, storage, marketing and dispatch of bulk and bagged cement; maintain its regional offices, aggregate treatment plant, ground transport base and operate the Can Negret quarry in Alaró.

The plant’s closure has led to the dismissal of six of the seven employees who worked at the kilns. Cemex has offered these workers positions at other company production centres.

Spain: Çimsa has invested €4.2m in launching a solar photovoltaic power plant to power its white cement plant in Buñol, Valencia. The solar plant has a capacity of 7.2MW and will supply about 18% of the energy needs for the cement plant.

The facility features 11,000 solar panels spread over 100,000m². This new solar power plant is expected to produce approximately 12GWh/yr of electricity, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 3000t/yr.