World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched new Net Zero Accelerator initiatives under its 2050 Net Zero Global Industry Roadmap strategy in several countries. The new initiatives will identify barriers to decarbonisation and recommend key actions in Colombia, Egypt, India and Thailand. The association will set out national roadmaps with reduction levers, identify funding possibilities and enter into policy dialogues with national governments. Together, the four countries account for 10% of global cement production.

Chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said "Last year, our industry made a breakthrough net zero global commitment. This is the next logical step as we move our focus from a global roadmap to driving decisive local action." He continued "Global cooperation between governments and industry is crucial to ensuring net zero targets are met. Our Net Zero Accelerators will offer collaboration and support to a number of target countries to help them decarbonise and align with the global roadmap. I'm proud to launch the first phase of the Accelerator programme to assist these nations in embracing greener technologies and work towards a more sustainable future together. I now call on more partners around the world to join us and be part of this movement."

China: CNBM’s sales revenue grew by 7% year-on-year to US$43.1bn in 2021 from US$40.1bn. Its sales volumes of cement and clinker fell by 3% to 332Mt and 13% to 40.4Mt respectively. Concrete sales volumes increased slightly to 112Mm³. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7% to US$8.11bn from US$7.6bn. The group increased its average cement prices by 10% in 2021. However, the group’s sales revenue from its engineering division fell by 29% to US$421m from US$590m, although its earnings recovered significantly. The group blamed this on “great uncertainty” in overseas markets due to the coronavirus pandemic although it said that producer’s willingness to invest was starting to recover.

Zhou Yuxian, chair of CNBM, said “The year 2021 was an extraordinary and tough year. In the face of complex environment abroad and numerous risks and challenges, China adhered to the general keynote of seeking progress in a stable manner, coordinating prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic and the development of economy and society, continuing the national economic recovery, taking a new step in building a new development pattern and achieving a good start of the 14th Five-Year Plan.”

India: JK Cement subsidiary Jaykaycem (Central) has secured a contract for the supply of cement for Rail Vikas Nigam's construction of a new line on the West Central Railway network between Devendra Nagar and Puraina in Madhya Pradesh. The line will be 50km in length.

Germany: ThyssenKrupp Uhde, Holcim and the Technische Universität Berlin have started a joint project to investigate the use of a novel amine scrubbing technology for carbon capture. The goal is to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from existing cement plants and at the same time utilise the captured CO₂ for other applications. This includes the development of new mass transfer process equipment that is more efficient and resilient to contaminations. The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The equipment is being tested using exhaust gas at Holcim’s Beckum plant. Various possibilities for using the captured CO₂ are also being examined, such as manufacturing methanol or sustainable fuels. The aim is develop a technology that can be retrofitted at existing cement plants.

Ralph Kleinschmidt, head of technology, innovation and sustainability at ThyssenKrupp Uhde said, "Amine scrubbing is already commonly used to recover CO₂ from process gases or exhaust gases. Now, we are developing the technology further and optimising it for the cement industry. Additional applications for capturing CO₂ direct at source, such as in waste incineration plants, are also possible."Arne Stecher, head of decarbonisation at Holcim Germany added that the company is testing different processes to find the best carbon capture technology.