Lafarge Canada is receiving a $5-million investment from the B.C. government to further develop its carbon utilization technology in cement production, which will reduce emissions and protect the air and environment.
“B.C.’s strong economy and record growth means we need to build the new homes, schools, roads and transit that people need, while we continue to tackle climate change,” said Premier David Eby. “That’s why we’re supporting Lafarge’s ongoing work to develop technology that is good for business and good for the environment.”
The funding comes from CleanBC Industry Fund, a program that takes a portion of the carbon tax paid by heavy industry and invests it back into businesses that demonstrate they can reduce their emissions with cleaner technology.
Projects are selected through a competitive process that evaluates business cases and the best potential to cost effectively reduce emissions. The CleanBC Industry Fund has recently completed a fourth intake which will provide close to $90 million in additional funding from the province for 41 new projects.
Cement manufacturing is an energy intensive process that produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change. This funding will support the trial of carbon-utilization technology by capturing carbon dioxide gas from the plant’s manufacturing facility and using it to produce synthetic fuels and the addition of alternative binders in cement.
“We are thrilled to have secured this funding, which will allow us to accelerate our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and drive sustainability forward in our industry,” said Brad Kohl, president and CEO, Lafarge Canada, Western Canada. “By working collaboratively with the government and other stakeholders, we can drive innovation and build a more sustainable future for all.”
Lafarge has also received an additional $1-million investment from the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy to increase utilization of captured carbon dioxide at the Richmond cement plant to advance the production of low-carbon fuels in B.C.
