Greece: Titan Cement has partnered with TERNA Energy to establish two mechanical and biological waste treatment plants for municipal solid waste (MSW) processing in Attica and Central Macedonia regions. Titan Cement’s aim is to secure a supply of high-quality alternative fuel (AF) for its regional cement operations. The partners have begun the public tender process for the projects.

Poland: Lafarge Poland has laid the foundation stone for the Euro100m new kiln line at its Małogoszcz cement plant. The replacement of the three existing kilns and installation of an alternative fuel (AF) line aims to reduce the plant’s CO₂ emissions by 20% and its energy consumption by 33%. The company, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Holcim, aims to make the cement plant into one of the EU’s most modern. China National Building Material (CNBM) subsidiary Nanjing Kisen International Engineering will carry out the work, which is scheduled for completion in early 2023.

Project director Krzysztof Byczyński said “One of the three kilns has already been demolished and in its place a new kiln will be built with the necessary installations. Preparatory works for the construction of a new kiln are currently underway.”

Italy: The Italian cement association Federbeton has launched its comprehensive plan for cement industry decarbonisation in line with the EU’s European Green Deal target of a 55% reduction in CO₂ emissions between 1990 and 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The strategyidentifies increased alternative fuel (AF) substitutionas an immediately achievable strategy to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by 12%. It contrasted the change with others such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) whichrequire further development. The sector’s primary fuel is petcoke, mainly imported from the Gulf of Mexico.

In total, the association’s strategy entails Euro4.2bn of new investments andEuro1.4m/yr of extra operating costs across the industry.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement subsidiary Hachinohe Cement has announced that it will be receiving heavy oil and woodchips from cargo washed ashore from the wreck of a ship at Hachinohe port on 11 August 2021. The company plans to use the waste as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for cement production at its cement Hachinohe cement plant. The company said that the oil spill from the incident has had a great impact on the region. It added “In the future, we would like to actively promote the acceptance of wreckage with heavy oil attached and cooperate in the early resolution of the situation.”