Holcim plans to invest around 250 million in Swiss plants
Published: Thursday, Jun 27th 2024, 15:20
Back to Live Feed
Holcim plans to invest around 250 million Swiss francs in its three Swiss cement plants. The aim is to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the production of cement and comply with the future limits of the Clean Air Ordinance.
The "Phoenix" project alone is likely to cost CHF 70 to 100 million, said Clemens Wögerbauer, Head of Commercial and Sustainability at Holcim Central Europe West, speaking to the media at the Siggenthal plant on Thursday. The aim is to significantly reduce the use of lignite to heat the cement kiln.
A gasifier will be built for this purpose, in which waste materials such as residual wood, paper sludge or plastics will be processed to produce synthesis gas, among other things. The synthesis gas can then be used to heat the cement kiln, as plant managers explained in an interview with the news agency AWP.
In addition, the exhaust gases are cleaned with a catalytic converter that is powered by waste heat from the furnace. As a result, less nitrogen and ammonia will be emitted into the air, allowing the future targets of the Swiss Clean Air Act to be met, explained the plant experts. This will reduce C02 emissions in Siggenthal by over 30,000 tons per year. The plant currently emits around 450,000 tons of CO2 annually.
This new plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2028. If it works well, it will also be installed in other Holcim cement plants, said those responsible.
Increase in alternative fuels
The "Phoenix" will increase the proportion of alternative fuels to 80 percent. This is a big step towards the goal of over 85 percent from the current 57 percent.
At its plant in Eclépens in western Switzerland, Holcim is building a warehouse and a conveyor system for non-recyclable plastic waste, which will be used as an alternative fuel. This and the use of new technologies will increase the proportion of alternative fuels from 70 percent to 95 percent, according to the statement. This should save around 40,000 tons of C02 per year.
And at the plant in Untervaz GR, an electric flame will be installed to heat the oven. This also reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
Lower-emission cement and concrete
In addition, the cement portfolio is to be strongly decarbonized. The proportion of cements with a lower clinker factor in the portfolio is to increase from the current 11 percent last year to over 50 percent in 2030. Holcim is thus raising the bar. Previously, the target was 30 percent.
Holcim is also aiming to increase the share of lower-emission concrete in its portfolio to over 50 percent by 2030, from 17 percent in 2023. The previous target was around 25 percent.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic