Concrete

US cancels $500mn grant for California net-zero cement project

Published

10 hours ago

June 17, 2025

admin

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has revoked a $500 million grant initially awarded in December 2024 to National Cement for transforming its Lebec, California plant into the state’s first net-zero cement facility. The $891 million project aimed to produce limestone calcined clay cement, fuel operations with agricultural waste, and capture CO2 for underground storage. It was also expected to generate 20–25 permanent jobs. The DOE cited poor financial viability and weak taxpayer returns as reasons for withdrawing support, part of a broader rollback that saw 24 grants totalling $3.7 billion cancelled. Energy Secretary Chris Wright criticised the previous administration’s ‘lack of due diligence’ in approving the awards. Meanwhile, Steven Nadel of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy called the cancellations ‘shortsighted’ and potentially regrettable. The initiative was among 33 industrial decarbonisation projects funded in 2023 and had already appeared on a DOE watchlist for possible termination earlier in 2025.

Up Next

Heidelberg Materials signs MoU for CCS

Don't Miss

Building Durable Roads

Concrete

Star Cement launches ‘Star Smart Building Solutions’

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

admin

Star Cement has launched ‘Star Smart Building Solutions,’ a new initiative aimed at promoting sustainable construction practices, as per a recent news report. This venture introduces a range of eco-friendly products, including tile adhesives, tile cleaners and grouts, designed to enhance durability and reduce environmental impact. The company plans to expand this portfolio with additional value-added products in the near future. By focusing on sustainable materials and innovative building solutions, Star Cement aims to contribute to environmentally responsible construction and meet the evolving needs of modern infrastructure development.

Image source:https://www.starcement.co.in/

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas reports record quarterly EBITDA

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

admin

Nuvoco Vistas reported its highest-ever quarterly consolidated EBITDA of Rs.556 crore in Q4 FY25, with annual EBITDA at Rs.1,391 crore. Cement sales reached 19.4 MMT in FY25, with Q4 contributing 5.7 MMT. Revenue rose 4 per cent YoY to Rs.3,042 crore in Q4. Net debt reduced by Rs.390 crore to Rs.3,640 crore. The company received NCLT approval for acquiring Vadraj Cement, targeting 31 MMTPA capacity by FY27. Key marketing initiatives, expanding RMX and MBM businesses, and a focus on sustainability (457 kg CO2/tonne) drove performance. Nuvoco remains focused on premiumisation, operational efficiency, and market expansion.

Image source:nuvoco.com

Concrete

UltraTech Cement increases capacity by 1.4Mt/yr

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

admin

UltraTech Cement has expanded its production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes per annum (Mt/yr) through a combination of debottlenecking efforts and operational efficiency upgrades across several of its plants. The enhancements include an addition of 0.6Mt/yr in grinding capacity at the Nagpur facility in Maharashtra and a combined 0.8Mt/yr at the Panipat and Jhajjar units in Haryana. With these upgrades, the company’s total domestic grey cement capacity has risen to 184.8Mt/yr, while its global capacity now stands at 190.2Mt/yr.