U.S. DOE Selects CEMEX USA to Develop Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technology to Cut CO2 Emissions

Cemex Inc., the nation’s largest cement and ready-mix company, announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected it to develop technology for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions at one of CEMEX’s U.S. cement plants.

CEMEX will work with RTI International and others to design a dry sorbent CO₂ capture and compression system, a pipeline (if necessary), and an injection station. This commercial-scale Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) demonstration project may remove up to 1 million tons of CO₂ annually.

"Our commitment to sustainability is not just a goal, but one of our biggest responsibilities. Through this project, CEMEX is pioneering a new frontier, working to develop cutting-edge technology that could offer a CO₂ reduction option for not only CEMEX plants, but for the U.S. cement industry. This project could also lead to the creation of green jobs in America,” said Gilberto Perez, President of CEMEX USA.

Only 12 CCS projects from industrial sources, including cement plants, chemical plants, paper mills, refineries, and manufacturing facilities across the United States were selected for the first phase of DOE funding. CEMEX USA is the only cement company in America to receive funding for a large-scale industrial CCS project.

The CCS projects are a cost-shared collaboration between the government and private industry to increase investment in clean industrial technologies and sequestration projects. The DOE will provide $1.14 million and CEMEX USA will provide 20 percent of the funding for Phase I of its project.

CEMEX’s sustainability commitment includes constantly looking at ways to minimize its energy use and reduce its carbon footprint. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DOE selected CEMEX USA as the 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for its outstanding energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008 alone, CEMEX decreased its total energy use equal to reducing 115,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. This is equivalent to providing electricity to at least 1,500 American homes for a decade or avoiding about 21,000 passenger vehicles’ CO₂ emissions for a year.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The company has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.

RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Established in 1958 as the Research Triangle Institute, RTI has a distinguished history of scientific research and achievement in the areas of health, energy, environmental science, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, and international development. RTI’s staff of more than 2,800 supports projects in more than 40 countries.