UK: CRH subsidiary Tarmac has pledged its support to the Route to Net Zero initiative to decarbonise the UK's logistics sector. Under the initiative, companies involved in transportation will implement changes aimed at achieving net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. Tarmac already transports 9Mt/yr of materials around the UK by rail.

Tarmac's logistics director Graham Waters said “Signing up to Logistics UK’s Route to Net Zero pledge marks a further step for our business, underscoring our commitment to eliminating carbon emissions from our extensive UK-wide logistics networks and accelerating this process through collaboration with our haulier partners and the wider industry."

India: The cement industry imported 3.21Mt of petcoke during the first quarter of 2023, up by 72% year-on-year. This was due to a shortage and rising costs of domestically produced petcoke.

Oman is a major trade partner for petcoke for the Indian cement industry. The Oman Daily Observer newspaper has reported that a new oil refinery is scheduled for commissioning in Duqm before the end of 2023. ‘Several’ Indian cement companies are reportedly seeking to secure new petcoke supply deals in Oman.

Germany: Global Cement is attending Powtech 2023 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, on 26 – 28 September 2023. Powtech is the International Processing Trade Fair for powder, bulk solids, fluids and liquids. Find us at Stand 2-524 in Hall 2.

Finland: Finnsementti is carrying out upgrades to its two integrated cement plants as part of its sustainability targets to 2030. The subsidiary of Ireland-based CRH is installing new main burner equipment at its Lappeenranta plant with completion scheduled for mid-2023. The project is intended to allow the plant to increase its use of alternative fuels. The company’s Parainen plant is replacing its satellite coolers with a grate cooler with completion scheduled for the spring of 2024. This work is expected to decrease the plant’s emissions by 10%. Overall the group is preparing to decrease its CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.