Global CemFuels News

Philippines: Holcim Philippines and its waste management subsidiary Geocycle have together inaugurated a waste processing plant and alternative fuels (AF) storage facility at the former’s Bulacan cement plant. The facilities consist of municipal solid waste (MSW) shredding equipment and a 5400m² warehouse. The installation is part of a US$2.41m investment by Holcim Philippines in the Bulacan plant, aimed at reducing its CO₂ footprint and increasing the circularity of its operations. The plant will produce its AF from MSW from the Boac municipality.

President and CEO Horia Adrian said “This initiative is part of our bigger commitment to make our operations more sustainable. These facilities will further reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs, while providing our partners with a safe and environmentally sound waste management option though our co-processing technology. We are excited to continue these projects to help us get closer to our long-term ambition of using 70% AF in cement production, instead of coal."

Norway: Norcem plans to invest up to Euro8m on upgrades at its integrated Kjøpsvik cement plant to improve its receiving, handling and feeding of alternative fuels. The project will be implemented by 2023. The work will include installing new storage and dosing systems for waste oil, FAB pellets and bone meal.

India: JK Cement has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Punjab Renewable Energy Systems (PRESPL). Under the agreement, PRESPL will supply its technologies and forward-integrated value chain for use by JK Cement in scaling up alternative fuel (AF) substitution at its cement plants. The transition will focus on biomass-based fuel use.

Managing director Raghavpat Singhania said "As we embark on our journey towards decarbonisation, we commit to this MoU that allows us and PRESPL to build deeper synergies in the bio-energy sector.” He added that the agreement promised ‘a better future with a win-win for the environment, people and energy in India.’

India: UltraTech Cement has signed a memorandum of understanding with Punjab Renewable Energy Systems for the installation of biomass processing lines to produce cement fuel at three of its Indian integrated cement plants. The supplier will also build a sustainable supply chain of agricultural waste for the plants. The companies say that the deal will help to dispose of the waste, which is normally burnt in the open, and reduce the cement plants' Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Currently, the plants rely on imported coal. Additionally, it will augment incomes in local farming communities.

Taiwan: Taiwan Cement has commenced the construction of a US$143m waste processing plant and ecopark at its 1.6Mt/yr Hualien cement plant. Japan-based Kawasaki Heavy Industries provided the design for the facility and visitor attraction. When commissioned, the plant will supply the Hualien cement plant with 200t/day of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) produced from municipal solid waste from Hualien. Taiwan Cement estimates that the move will eliminate 40,000t/yr of CO₂ emissions from the plant’s operations.