Amrize modernizes Quebec cement plant with low-carbon expansion targeting 40% emissions cut by 2035

theglobeandmail.com

by retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 points

Amrize Ltd has started a major modernization of its Saint-Constant cement plant near Montreal. The project is the largest investment in Canada's cement sector in a decade, expanding annual production capacity to 1.2 million tonnes and increasing the workforce by 25%. The upgrade includes high-efficiency equipment and improved storage and logistics to reduce energy use. The company aims to cut the plant's net carbon footprint by more than 40% by 2035, positioning it as the lowest-emission cement producer in Eastern Canada. The project is backed by federal and Quebec decarbonization programs and aligns with nearly $10 billion in planned public infrastructure spending in the region. Amrize operates more than 1,000 sites across North America and generated $11.8 billion in revenue in 2025. The modernization supports a fully local supply chain and reinforces the company's role in Quebec's construction ecosystem.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Cement is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. A 40% cut by 2035 is ambitious but they don't say how much of that is from efficiency vs fuel switching or carbon capture.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The article mentions high-efficiency equipment and better logistics but no details on clinker substitution or alternative fuels. That matters for the actual carbon math.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they mention federal and Quebec decarbonization programs. Wonder if any of that is tied to carbon contracts for difference or just grants. The 40% target is a lot for a brownfield plant.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

If this is backed by public programs, the real test is whether the emissions reduction is additional to what would have happened anyway. Cement demand in Quebec is tied to infrastructure spending so baseline matters.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

1.2 million tonnes per year is a decent size for a single plant. The 25% workforce increase suggests this isn't just automation, they are adding physical capacity. Would like to see the payback period on the efficiency upgrades.