Holcim has commissioned a new calcined clay production line at its Cížkovice cement plant in the Czech Republic. The project represents the first calcined clay line of its kind in the country and Holcim Czech Republic's largest-ever investment.
The new line has a production capacity of more than 115,000tpa of calcined clay, using material sourced from Holcim's local quarry. The calcined clay will partially replace clinker in cement production, enabling the company to supply around 580,000tpa of ECOPlanet low-carbon cement.
According to Holcim, its proprietary technology will enable the resulting cement to achieve a carbon footprint around 30 per cent lower than conventional cement without compromising performance.
The project represents an investment of approximately CZK1bn (US$47.7m), of which CZK330m has been provided through the Czech Ministry of the Environment's Modernisation Fund.
"The commissioning of this new calcined clay line is an important step for Holcim to scale up next generation ECOPlanet low-carbon cement as an innovative solution to meet our customers’ most ambitious goals," said Xavier Guesnu, Holcim region head for Central and East Europe.
The Cížkovice project follows the opening of Holcim's dedicated calcined clay line at Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, France, in 2023 and the commissioning of a new calcined clay line in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2025.
