Tunisia: Carthage Cement has published its 2025 Sustainability Report. L'Economiste Maghrébin newspaper has reported that the producer’s total energy consumption fell by 12% year-on-year to 5,300,000GJ. Thermal consumption declined by 12% to 4,720,000GJ, while electricity consumption declined by 9% to 588,000GJ. Raw materials consumption was 1.5t/t of cement produced. As a result, extraction volumes declines by 12%, to 4.09Mt.
US: CO2-sequestering alternative cement developer CarbonCure and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Masic Lab have published a study establishing a new chemomechanical framework for CO2 mineralisation in cement. The study found that early-age CO2 injection fundamentally reroutes cement hydration by introducing a transient reactive silica gel phase. This phase templates a more homogeneous calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) microstructure and increases 24-hour compressive strength compared to reference samples.
The study concluded that mechanical gains in CO2-activated systems are not solely attributable to the pore-filling effect of nanocarbonates, but are ‘significantly’ driven by alteration of the hydration sequence. As such, the researchers advised that the optimisation CO2 utilisation technologies should focus on controlling the kinetics of silica gel generation and consumption as well as the degree of carbonate formation.
Argentina: Molins subsidiary Cementos Avellaneda has acquired a 70% stake in construction products company Prokrete Argentina. Protex's prior owners will remain as minority shareholders with board representation. Protex produces waterproofing products, sealants, additives, adhesives, coatings and industrial paints, and also owns assets in the mining, energy and heavy industry sectors.
Canada: ThyssenKrupp Calvion has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with TKMS and US-based Heirloom Carbon Technologies to advance large-scale direct air capture (DAC) in Alberta. The collaborations will pair ThyssenKrupp Calvion’s calcination with Heirloom's limestone-based DAC method, alongside CO₂ purification and compression technologies from the wider ThyssenKrupp group. ThyssenKrupp Calvion will also develop a carbon capture calciner based on its Oxyfuel technology.
Heirloom head of commercialisation Max Scholten said "Canada's natural resource base, workforce and technical capacity are a compelling foundation for carbon removal research, development and large-scale deployment. The synergy of our partnership with ThyssenKrupp Calvion lays the foundation for investments that remove carbon, produce low-carbon fuels, create durable jobs, and cement Canada's place in a decarbonising global marketplace."
