This joint venture aims to produce carbon-neutral fuels and materials with lower carbon emissions.

Mexican multinational Cemex has signed a joint venture agreement with recycling services provider ALBA to produce biochar, a carbon-neutral fuel derived from biomass.

The use of biochar, together with a planned on-site carbon capture project, will enable the capture of CO2 from biomass for storage and the production of sustainable aviation fuels.

The biochar plant, called ALCE, will be the first of its kind in Europe in terms of size, capacity and strategic location at Cemex's Rüdersdorf cement plant.

This fully automated facility will process and recycle organic waste into carbon-neutral alternative fuels, reducing the use of fossil fuels in cement production.

Because of its potential to sequester CO2, Cemex is also testing the incorporation of biochar into its concrete mixes to further reduce its carbon footprint.

"Rüdersdorf is one of the most modern cement plants in the world, and with this joint venture we are making significant progress in transforming the plant into our first carbon-neutral cement facility by 2030," said Fernando A. González, CEO. from Cemex.

"This joint venture is another important milestone in achieving our ambitious 2030 decarbonization goals."

THE ALCE PLANT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OPERATION BY THE END OF 2026

In 2023, alternative fuels represented 37% of Cemex's fuel mix, setting a record for the company for the third consecutive year.

Cemex's European plants have set the standard for alternative fuel consumption, reaching rates of over 70% in the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom, and over 90% in Poland.

This joint venture is part of Cemex's Future in Action program to build a more sustainable and circular future, with the main goal of becoming a net CO2 emissions company by 2050.

Since the launch of Futuro en Acción, the company has achieved record CO2 reductions.