On October 3rd, Buzzi SpA has completed the acquisition from Grupo Ricardo Brennand of a 50% stake in NCPAR, the equal joint venture through which Buzzi has been operating in Brazil since 2018. As a result of this acquisition, Buzzi now holds 100% control of NCPAR.

NCPAR owns 5 fully integrated cement plants and 2 grinding centers, with a total production capacity of about 7.2 million tons/year.

The price paid by Buzzi for the purchase of the shares was around €300,0 million, determined based on the existing agreements between the parties and the exchange rate fluctuations of the Brazilian real during the summer months. Buzzi has funded the payment with its available liquidity.

For key economic and financial data of NCPAR, please refer to the information provided in Buzzi SpA’s press releases regarding the financial statements for the fiscal year 2023 and the half-yearly financial report as of 30 June 2024, issued on 28 March 2024 and 2 August 2024 respectively.

On Saturday, September 21st, the inauguration of Area907 took place, an immersive journey within the Trino plant, which holds a significant place in Buzzi's history, as the cement plant was founded in 1907, the same year as the company.  This project has focused on memory, technological innovation, and the industrial present and future, told through the stories of the people who contributed to the growth of the company. The inauguration was enhanced by the blessing of the Archbishop of Vercelli and the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by local authorities, highlighting the importance of the event for the community.

In addition to the exhibition route, two new adjacent spaces were opened: the first, enriched with images and objects from the Historical Archive, traces the history of the company and introduces visitors to the museum area; the second, a striking glass structure, hosts the alphabet by artist Giuseppe Stampone, a collaborator on the participatory art project that permeates the entire journey. The Area907 project is dedicated to the memory of Eng. Sandro Buzzi and has the ambitious goal of being fully integrated into Museimpresa, an association born to safeguard the memory of Italian industry as a driver of sustainable development and a cornerstone of widespread economic, social, and civil culture. The visit unfolds along the old plant, from the Pa.Vo. and Fo.Co. kilns (acronyms for "Patience and Will" and "Strength and Courage") to the control room, from the production of Ares to the pilot furnace, from the Pacific to the clinker mills, and finally to the world's first experimental Horomill.

Buzzi has initiated a revolutionary pilot project for CO₂ capture at the Buzzi Unicem plant in Monselice, in collaboration with Nuada, a UK-based company specializing in carbon capture technologies.

Nuada's cutting-edge technology stands out for its use of an electrically powered system that separates CO₂ from industrial flue gases using pressure instead of heat. This innovative method is already operational and has demonstrated the capability to capture one tonne of CO₂  per day from cement flue gas.

The adoption of this technology represents a significant step towards the decarbonization of the cement sector. Nuada's solution promises to revolutionize carbon capture by combining advanced solid sorbents, known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF), with a mature vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) process.

The Monselice pilot plant not only strengthens Buzzi's commitment to sustainability but also demonstrates the potential of Nuada's modern technology in cement production. This project is part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing the environmental impact of industrial production and achieving ambitious sustainability goals.

For further details on the project and the technologies employed, please refer to the full press release on Nuada's website by clicking here.

In mid-June, six oxygen tanks were installed installed on the construction site of the "catch4climate" CO2 capture project in Mergelstetten, marking a significant milestone in constructing the oxyfuel furnace facility. This installation, developed by CI4C, a joint venture of Buzzi SpA, Dyckerhoff GmbH, Heidelberg Materials AG, SCHWENK Zement GmbH & Co. KG, and Vicat S.A., is set to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2025 with an investment of over 120 million euros.

The newly installed oxygen tanks, each weighing 26 tons and offering a total capacity of 360 cubic meters of liquid oxygen, are crucial for the oxyfuel process, which uses pure oxygen instead of air, significantly increasing the CO2 concentration in the kiln's exhaust gases and enhancing the potential for CO2 capture to about 90%. The aim is to achieve cost-effective capture of 100% of the cement plant’s CO2 emissions.

The oxyfuel furnace facility, featuring a separate rotary kiln line with a clinker production capacity of 450 tons per day, will undergo a three-year research and development period after its commissioning. This project is the first to use the pure oxyfuel process for CO2 capture, setting the stage for large-scale application of CO2 capture technologies in the cement industry. Captured CO2 then will be utilized or stored, providing an alternative to carbon extracted from fossil fuels for various industrial applications. For more details, click here.

Immage credit: Conné van d´Grachten

On 21st May 2024, the Governor of Missouri Michael Parson visited Buzzi, along with his wife Teresa and a large delegation made up of senators and members of the administration, as part of an extensive trade mission in Italy.

They were welcomed at the headquarters by Chairwoman Veronica Buzzi, CEO Pietro Buzzi, CTO Luigi Buzzi and COO Dirk Beese.

In the State of Missouri, the group has two important facilities, located in Cape Girardeau and Festus. This visit was an opportunity to illustrate the fruitful path of cooperation underway in the Midwest, where the company has been investing in infrastructure, technology and human capital for years, developing close ties with the local community in which it is fully integrated.

Between May 16th and 17th, Buzzi SpA received notification of the exercise of the put option granted as part of the existing agreements to Grupo Ricardo Brennand, concerning the 50% stake in NCPAR (formerly BCPAR), the equal joint venture through which Buzzi has been operating in Brazil since 2018. As a result of this exercise Buzzi will acquire 100% control of NCPAR.

NCPAR owns 5 fully integrated cement plants and 2 grinding centers, with a total production capacity of over 7.2 million tons/year.

The execution of the sale agreement, following the exercise of the put option, is subject to approval by the Brazilian antitrust authority (CADE). It is believed that the transfer of the stake will likely take place by the end of the current fiscal year.

On the World Day for Health and Safety at Work, Buzzi renews its commitment to ensuring a safe working environment for all its employees.

The health and safety of collaborators are absolute priorities and constitute the foundation of every activity. The company is dedicated to promoting a culture of safety that goes beyond compliance with regulations, to embrace a holistic approach that protects physical, mental and social life of all those who are part of our reality. Only through collective and continuous commitment it is possible to guarantee a safe, healthy and inclusive working environment for everyone.

In the last 6 months we have updated the Group policy by presenting it to the organization through new multimedia materials and workshops, facilitating interaction and sharing experiences to achieve the "Zero Accidents" goal.

The 2023 Sustainability Report contains information regarding the Group's performance in the environmental, social and governance fields.
 
In 2023 Buzzi further reduced its CO₂ emissions, in line with the objectives of the "Our Journey to Net Zero" roadmap for 2030 and 2050, while the use of renewable energy increased, a portion of which was self-produced with photovoltaic systems.

Speaking of environmental sensitivity, Buzzi reports on the project aimed at monitoring and safeguarding the biodiversity present in the quarries, in collaboration with the Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO).
 
With the publication of the new Health and Safety Policy, the company is committed to achieving the "zero injuries" goal, through initiatives that promote an even more inclusive, widespread and engaging health and safety culture.
 
Finally, the results of the analysis, carried out in 2023, on practices and activities for the protection of Human Rights are presented to verify the company's level of maturity and possible areas for improvement.
 

Buzzi Unicem USA and Lehigh University have been awarded a $2 million grant from the US Department of Energy Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) to develop a project regarding low-carbon non-ordinary Portland cements that can decarbonize industries by advancing low-temperature calcined clays. This project, started in 2023, consists in the adoption of calcined clays as an alternative concrete binder, achieving durability with clay beneficiation. Calcined clays offer a promising low CO2 supplementary cementitious material with a 50% lower carbon footprint than traditional cement. The initial project started in early 2023.

The grant fits in with the recently announced $171 million in funding for 49 projects, promoted by IEDO, to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the development of innovative decarbonization technologies.

As part of the company's decarbonization strategy, after the validation of our CO₂ emissions reduction target by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), in 2023 Buzzi participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire, receiving the B score. In this way, the company has furthered its commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing its ecological footprint.

CDP is a global non-profit organization that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform: it collects data on greenhouse gas emissions and their management and evaluates companies based on the information collected and their performance. Its methodology provides for the assignment of a score to participating companies, based on the disclosure completeness, awareness and management of climate risks and the demonstration of implementing best practices, such as setting ambitious goals.

By disclosing through CDP, Buzzi is prepared to respond to the increasing demand for sustanability transparency from financial institutions, customers and policymakers.

For more information visit the website https://www.cdp.net/en

Massimo Toso, current Buzzi Unicem USA’s President and CEO has been elected as President of PCA, a US association that promotes the use of cement and concrete not only in the USA but also internationally in partnership with other organizations in the same sector.
Massimo Toso has already served in 2023 as Vice Chair within the organization.

One of PCA's goals is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, defining the Roadmap as an overall strategy for the cement, concrete and construction industry to accomplish this ambitious target.

In this regard, new PCA Board Chairman Toso said: "As I assume the role of Chair in this pivotal moment, let our leadership unite in a shared commitment. Together, as the cement industry, we must confirm our goal to be part of the carbon reduction program defined by the PCA Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality and be sure that cement and concrete will remain the most resilient and sustainable construction materials in the market."