India: JK Cement has successfully commissioned a 1.0Mt/yr grey cement grinding mill at its integrated Mangrol cement plant in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan and 1.5Mt/yr of new cement grinding capacity at its Aligarh integrated plant in Uttar Pradesh. Both of the units have also commenced commercial dispatches.

France: Following a successful trial that began in December 2019, LafargeHolcim has inaugurated a FastCarb CO₂ absorption accelerator into concrete production at its Val d'Azergues cement and concrete plant (integrated capacity 0.4Mt/yr) in Lozanne. The technology involves the capture of CO₂ from the plant’s cement kiln for reinjection into concrete produced with recycled aggregates. François Petry, LafargeHolcim France managing director, said the installation ‘fits perfectly into our Lafarge 360 approach for more responsible construction.’ The five-pillar approach consists of alternative fuel substitution and development, power consumption reduction, formulation of new cements, cooperation with Airium insulation solutions and assistance with low-carbon building design.

India: Udaipur Cement Works has applied for environmental clearance to the government of Rajasthan for the construction of a 5.0Mt/yr integrated cement plant in the state. It plans for the plant to have an additional 2.0Mt/yr grinding capacity, a 30MW waste heat recovery (WHR) power plant and a 25MW coal-fired power plant. Project Today has reported a conjectured value for the project of US$224m.

UK: InterBulk Group delivered a batch of Italcementi’s I.tech Ali-Na sulphoaluminate binder produced at its 0.3Mt/yr Guardiaregia cement plant in Molise, Italy to fellow HeidelbergCement subsidiary Hanson’s concrete plant in Hull, UK, on 28 January 2020. Hanson will use the low-environmental-impact binder in the production of fast-setting premixes for the UK market.