- Heidelberg Materials begins ambitious CCUS project at Airvault cement plant, New Aquitaine Region, France.
- AirvaultGOCO₂, a major part of GOCO₂ initiative, aims for 1 million tonnes CO₂ capture annually.
- Project marks significant advancement in decarbonizing the French cement industry.
Heidelberg, Germany — Heidelberg Materials Wednesday said it prepares to significantly reduce its carbon footprint in France with the launch of the AirvaultGOCO₂ project at the Airvault cement plant.
The initiative, part of the broader GOCO₂ effort to decarbonize the West of France, plans an annual CO₂ capture capacity of approximately 1 million tonnes. Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board, highlighted the company’s dedication to this cause, emphasizing a 400 million Euro investment in the modernization and decarbonization of its French sites.
The Airvault plant is undergoing a transformative upgrade, including the replacement of semi-dry firing lines with a more efficient dry line and a pre-calciner. The upgrades, which aim for a 90% alternative fuel usage and a 10% reduction in electricity consumption per tonne of cement, are set to decrease the carbon footprint by nearly 30%.