India: The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) is considering using agricultural biomass as an alternative fuel. It says it is willing to offer support to different state governments to help find a way of delivering biomass directly from fields to cement producers, according to the Times of India newspaper. The CMA says it is offering a solution to the dust pollution caused by crop burning. However, the industry needs to resolves problems with transportation and seasonality. The CMA hopes to contact local governments and organisations to find a solution to these issues in 2019.

Oman: Four French investors and technology suppliers, including Fives and Suez, have created a syndicate to develop business opportunities in the Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm. The other partners are CMA CGM and EDF Renewables. The companies intend to assess various investment options in the area and develop them. In particular, the syndicate has an interest in a ‘global approach to cement factory ecosystems’ and related facilities including transport facilities, a solar power generation plant and the production of alternative fuels.

France: Vicat has showcased Vicat Circulère, its construction waste management plant, at the Pollutec environmental exhibition in Lyon. The building materials producer has set itself the goal of no longer using fossil fuels at its cement plants by 2023. At present it has an alternative fuels substitution rate of over 50% at its cement plants in France.

France: Geocycle France says it has strengthened its local presence by setting up a network of six units at LafargeHolcim sites in 2018. These are: La Malle, Le Teil, Martres, Saint -Pierre-La-Cour, Altkirch and Val d'Azergues. The Geocycle units are intended to support co-processing activity at cement plants. In 2017 the French waste management subsidiary of LafargeHolcim recycled 0.65Mt/yr of waste materials.