CEMEX increasing production of lower carbon Portland limestone cement in Colorado

• Lyons plant boosts manufacturing of eco-friendly cement that can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 10%

HOUSTON, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CEMEX USA announced today as part of its efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions, the company has increased production of Portland limestone cement (PLC) at its plant in Lyons, Colo., with the environmentally friendly, lower carbon building material expected to become the plant's primary product by this summer.

CEMEX USA has been ramping up production of PLC across the U.S. as part of a suite of solutions to reduce the carbon footprint throughout its operations and products. PLC can offer CO₂ emission reductions of up to 10% when compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In PLC, finely-ground limestone replaces a portion of the clinker, cutting clinker factor by about 10% and reducing CO₂ intensity when compared to OPC. Extensive testing and customer feedback have shown PLC offers the same or better performance in durability and resilience when compared to OPC.

"CEMEX is committed to being a leader in climate action, and we have aggressive emission reduction goals designed to positively affect our industry and our world," said CEMEX USA President Jaime Muguiro. "The increased production of Portland limestone cement is just one element of our plan to reduce our carbon footprint, and by making the lower carbon solution more available for our customers, they can help provide an even broader and effective impact."  

Though PLC has been produced at Lyons cement plant for more than 15 years, CEMEX is ramping up production to better align with the company's ambitious carbon reduction goals and meet increased demand for lower carbon materials. In addition to Lyons, CEMEX USA has also increased PLC production at its Brooksville, Fla., and Demopolis, Ala., cement plants, and plans to step up production or start manufacturing the eco-friendly product, at other U.S. cement plants in the coming months.

Just last year, CEMEX implemented its Future in Action program to reduce CO₂ throughout its value chain and announced updated climate goals. The aggressive targets include reducing the company's CO₂ emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 baseline levels and working to deliver net-zero concrete globally by 2050. As part of its commitment to climate action, CEMEX joined carbon neutrality roadmaps from the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and Portland Cement Association (PCA). CEMEX is also a founding member of the First Movers Coalition, an initiative that unites more than two dozen companies worldwide to spur innovation and the use of decarbonization technologies.

To learn more about Portland limestone cement, visit the website: www.cemexusa.com/PLC.

About CEMEX USA

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services with a rich history of improving the wellbeing of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements and sustainability efforts. Its U.S. network includes 10 cement plants, close to 50 strategically located cement terminals, nearly 50 aggregate quarries and more than 280 ready-mix concrete plants. CEMEX USA has been repeatedly recognized for its efforts in sustainability and energy management, including earning U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

SOURCE CEMEX USA