Cemex accelerating PLC production in Southeast

Cemex USA introduced a lower-carbon portland limestone cement (PLC) at its plants in Brooksville, Florida, and Demopolis, Alabama.

According to Cemex, portland limestone cement can offer a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10 percent versus ordinary portland cement (OPC).

In PLC, Cemex says finely ground limestone replaces a portion of the clinker, typically reducing the clinker factor by about 10 percent versus OPC – and thereby reducing its carbon dioxide intensity.

Extensive testing and customer feedback showed PLC offers the same or better performance in durability and resilience when compared to OPC, Cemex adds.

PLC accounts for more than 50 percent of the cement produced at Brooksville and more than 20 percent of the cement at Demopolis. Cemex USA aims to increase the production of PLC, or begin manufacturing the product, at other U.S. cement plants in the coming months.

“At Cemex, we acknowledge that climate action is one of the most important issues facing our world, and we are committed to being part of the solution,” says Jaime Muguiro, Cemex USA president. “Our company has ambitious emission-reduction targets, and by offering lower carbon products that deliver brilliant performance like portland limestone cement, we can continue to work toward those goals while encouraging customers to join us in the journey.”

In addition to diversifying its product mix with PLC, Cemex USA plans to increase its use of alternative fuels, including biomass, at the Brooksville and Demopolis cement plants to further reduce carbon dixoide emissions and promote a circular economy. Alternative fuels are expected to account for 30 percent of fuels used in the manufacturing process at the Brooksville plant by the end of 2022, Cemex says.