Heidelberg Materials and the Government of Canada successfully completed a Memorandum of Understanding supporting Heidelberg Materials’ project to develop the cement industry’s first global full-scale carbon capture and storage facility.
The new facility, part of Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton plant in Alberta, is scheduled to be operational by late 2026 and will capture more than 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
“The Government of Canada’s commitment is a great acknowledgment of our efforts and marks yet another key milestone in our eager decarbonization journey,” said Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board. “Our North American sites and the Edmonton CCUS facility, in particular, play a vital role in achieving Heidelberg Materials’ ambitious CO₂ reduction commitment. We will work hard to quickly progress this industry-leading project.”
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, noted, “This partnership shows that our government is committed to the hard-working people of Alberta, as well as to the greening of Canada’s production of concrete and cement.
There is a growing urgency for rapid decarbonization in high-emitting sectors, including the cement and concrete industry. By working hand in hand with the industry, we can support adopting innovative technologies that will contribute to lower emissions and increased competitiveness.
“Carbon capture is an important tool in our fight against climate change, and Canada is proud to be partnering with Heidelberg Materials in the development of this innovative clean technology,” said the Minister,
“Our Edmonton CCUS project as the world’s first carbon-neutral cement plant is another milestone in Heidelberg Materials’ ambitious drive to lead the industry to net zero, and we are excited to begin realizing this as soon as possible,” shared Chris Ward, President and CEO of Heidelberg Materials North America.
“We are very fortunate to partner with the Government of Canada in this endeavour, and we look forward to continued collaboration as we move forward with this exciting project.”
In 2024, Heidelberg Materials will go on stream with the world’s first industrial-scale carbon capture plant in the cement industry in Brevik, Norway. The CCUS facility will capture and store 50% of the plant’s annual emissions.
Once operational, the Edmonton CCUS project, the world’s first full-scale carbon-neutral cement plant, is anticipated to capture up to 95% of the plant’s total CO₂ emissions.
Having the building materials industry’s most ambitious CO₂ reduction targets and a steadily growing portfolio of CCUS projects, Heidelberg Materials is an integral player in solving the climate change challenge.
Mayor of Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi, added “I am pleased to see that the Heidelberg Materials carbon capture, utilization and storage solution pilot project will be going into production shortly. The Edmonton region is uniquely positioned to decarbonize large industrial facilities such as this cement plant. Today, this announcement by Heidelberg Materials and the Government of Canada supports the City of Edmonton’s commitment to transition to a low-carbon future and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By preserving our environment and diversifying our economy in innovative ways, we can build a more sustainable Edmonton for all of us.”
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Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. We are represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations.
