UK cement production has fallen to its lowest level since 1950, driven by high energy costs, regulatory burdens, and competition from imports. The Mineral Products Association warns that without better policy support, the sector risks deindustrialization and offshoring of emissions. Key asks include fixing the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to cover indirect electricity costs, extending Energy Intensive Industry compensation to cement, and using public procurement to favor British-made cement. Carbon capture remains essential for cement because process emissions from clinker chemistry cannot be eliminated by fuel switching or alternative chemistries alone. The cluster model for CCS infrastructure works for sites near hubs like HyNet and Peak Cluster, but the article notes that dispersed plants need a government-led CO2 transport and storage plan to avoid being left behind. The piece is worth reading for anyone tracking UK industrial decarbonization policy and the real-world tension between climate goals and industrial competitiveness.
