Holcim begins operations at new UK low-carbon cement terminal

Holcim has discharged its first vessel at its new materials terminal in Tilbury, UK, marking the start of import and distribution operations at the facility, the company said on June 16.

This advancement positions Holcim to expand its supply network across southeast England ahead of the site's full commissioning in early 2027, when it will produce low-carbon cement products from recycled materials and blast furnace slag, it said in a statement.

"Initiating import and distribution of cementitious materials is a major step forward for Tilbury Cement Works and for Holcim's ability to serve customers across the South East," Tim Fry, project manager at Holcim UK, said.

The facility includes a ship-to-shore conveyor system, enclosed belt conveyors, and the UK's first 30,000-tonne cement dome silo, with operations running 24 hours a day.

Mill commissioning ahead

The statement said the next phase will be the completion and commissioning of the site's vertical roller mill later in 2026. The mill will grind granulated blast furnace slag and recycled concrete fines, enabling the production of ground granulated blast furnace slag and blended cements.

Full product lines, including Holcim's ECOPlanet low-carbon cement and ECOPlanet with ECOCycle circular materials, will be available in early 2027.

Holcim said the facility is strategically located at a deep-water berth to receive large bulk vessels as part of its global logistics network, improving economies of scale and reducing freight-related emissions. The facility will also be served by the NACC Sustament, expected to enter service in 2027, which will be the world's largest and most sustainable cement carrier, operating on green methanol, the company said.

"Tilbury is a transformational investment for Holcim UK. It will ultimately support our ECOPlanet low-carbon cement and ECOPlanet with ECOCycle and accelerate the shift to low-carbon and circular construction," Mohamed Alami, managing director of Holcim UK's cement division, said.

The terminal has been engineered with forward flexibility, allowing it to process future materials, such as calcined clay, as the UK transitions to lower-carbon construction, Holcim said.

The construction of Tilbury Cement Works has itself followed circular principles, with 25,000 cubic meters of concrete crushed and reused on site, 10,000 metric tons of reclaimed asphalt incorporated into Holcim's asphalt products, and 20,000 metric tons of excavated material processed through the company's recycling hubs.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CEMDEX Turkey at $55.5/mt FOB on June 11.