US: Sublime Systems has acquired a site in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to build its first commercial-scale cement plant. The planned unit is expected to be commissioned in 2026, create 70 jobs, and will eventually have a capacity of 30,000t/yr. The selected site previously housed paper mills and is powered by local hydroelectric resources. The project is also being supported by a state tax credit from the Economic Development Incentive Program and local Tax Increment Financing from the City of Holyoke to offset property taxes. The commercial-scale plant is being developed as a stepping-stone before building a larger 1Mt/yr plant in the future.

Sublime Systems chief executive officer and co-founder Leah Ellis said “The same qualities that made Holyoke a world-class industrial hub in the past perfectly position it to now be the home for clean tech manufacturing of the future.” She continued, “The Water Street site exemplifies that in its ample space, industrial zoning, access to renewable hydroelectricity, utilities and even rail.”

Sublime Systems is commercialising an electrolysis cement production process that will manufacture cement at ambient temperature from a variety of calcium sources. Its Sublime Cement product received an ASTM C1157 designation in September 2023. The company has raised over US$50m from a consortium of climate technology investors, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funding and strategic investor Siam Cement Group.

Saudi Arabia: Al Jouf Cement Company has awarded a contract to Rabou’ Al Taybeh for the export and sale of its clinker. Local press has reported that the contract has a value of US$8m and a duration of six months, subject to renewal.

India: Anjani Portland Cement has completed the amalgamation of Bhavya Cements into itself. Bhavya Cements operates the 1.4Mt/yr Bhavya cement plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Egypt: Saad El Din Group affiliate Spanish Egyptian Cement Factory says that it has four foreign entities interested in placing bids to acquire it. Arab Finance News has reported that two of the entities in question are based in Gulf countries. Saad El Din Group is reportedly withdrawing from other industries outside of its core petroleum products business.

Spanish Egyptian Cement Factory controls the El Raswa grinding plant in Port Said Public Free Zone.