Holcim US transitioning another cement plant to PLC

Holcim US transitioned its Lafarge Joppa cement plant, located in Grand Chain, Illinois, to OneCem portland limestone cement (PLC) production.

The development follows the transition to the lower carbon dioxide-intensive product in Holcim US facilities in Texas, Missouri and Michigan.

“As a leader in our industry, it’s our responsibility to build a path for others to follow by setting the bar for product innovation and improvement,” says Michel Klenk, plant manager at Holcim US. “OneCem fits the bill as a low-carbon product that allows for sustained performance with lower emissions – a major demand in the industry as we help our customers achieve significant emissions reductions while delivering products that continue to meet or exceed their exacting specifications.”

According to Holcim US, OneCem has been tested and proven to serve as an effective alternative for traditional portland cement. The blended material is manufactured with 10 percent finely ground high-quality limestone, the company says, resulting in a 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of portland cement.

OneCem’s performance allows it to be used in virtually any cement-based application, Holcim adds, including residential construction and large-scale infrastructure projects.

The Joppa plant, which produces 500,000 metric tons of cement each year, was constructed in 1963 and supplies cement along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Minneapolis to the Gulf of Mexico and as far east as Pittsburgh. The OneCem transition builds on the plant’s existing environmental sustainability initiatives, which include the operation of a selective catalytic reducer to help control emissions.

By shifting operations to the OneCem product, Holcim US says the Joppa cement plant will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 35,000 metric tons each year.