Heidelberg Materials to end clinker production at Hanover
German cement plant to be operated as a grinding facility only following decline in cement sales
HEIDELBERG Materials have announced that they are to shut down clinker production at their Hanover cement plant in the second half of 2024. Going forward, the company will instead focus its activities in Hanover on the end-product cement and will continue to operate the site as a grinding facility.
The adjustment comes after a substantial decline in cement sales following weak construction demand in Germany due to the current economic environment as well as a stronger alignment of the company’s cement portfolio towards low-carbon products, leading to the production of cement with reduced clinker content.
As a result of the adjustment, the capacity utilization of the company’s neighbouring Westphalian cement plants – which will be supplying cement clinker to Hanover in the future – will be strengthened. With its favourable geographical location, Heidelberg Materials say Hanover will remain an attractive site to ensure the supply of cement in the region.
A number of the 120 employees currently working at the Hanover cement plant will continue to be employed at the grinding facility, whilst transfers to other divisions/sites within the company, early retirement packages etc are being sought for the remainder, in close consultation with the workers’ council.
The site’s LEILAC 2 (Low Emissions Intensity Lime And Cement) research project, which is subsidised by the EU and planned for implementation by the end of 2025, will now be carried out at another Heidelberg Materials site. The demonstration facility in question aims to show that with the patented LEILAC technology, the CO2 released during cement production can be captured in a highly pure form via a separate waste gas stream and used in other processes.
