Omya and Lafarge France expand cooperation to advance low‑carbon cement solutions
Omya has announced a strategic partnership with Lafarge France (Holcim) to jointly develop and implement low‑carbon cement solutions. The collaboration, effective 1 October 2026, includes:
- integrating Omya’s mineral additives into Lafarge’s cement formulations,
- optimising local supply chains,
- expanding products with a reduced clinker factor.
The partnership aims to strengthen Lafarge France’s portfolio of low‑carbon cements, where SCMs (supplementary cementitious materials) — including GBFS (granulated blast furnace slag) and ACS (air‑cooled slag) — play a key role. These materials provide stable technical performance and significantly lower CO₂ intensity, making them essential components in Lafarge France’s decarbonisation strategy.
Omya, as a producer of high‑quality mineral additives, reinforces its presence in the low‑clinker cement segment, where GBFS and ACS remain crucial for achieving CO₂‑reduction targets.
Çimsa builds Ireland’s largest rooftop solar installation at the Mannok plant
Çimsa (Sabancı Holding) has begun construction of Ireland’s largest rooftop solar power installation at the Mannok production site. The project is being developed in partnership with Activ8 Solar Energies and SSE Airtricity.
Key project parameters:
- Capacity: 6 MW
- Panels: ~10,000
- Surface area: ~38,800 m²
- Annual generation: 4.86 million kWh
- CO₂ avoided: ~792 t/year
Once operational, Çimsa’s total installed solar capacity will exceed 30 MW, and together with WHR systems in Mersin and Eskişehir, more than 41 MW. The company expects these combined investments to avoid approximately 50,000 t of CO₂ annually.
The transition to renewable energy directly supports the production of low‑clinker cements, where GBFS and ACS play a central role in reducing CO₂ intensity. Improved energy efficiency and decarbonised production create favourable conditions for broader use of slag‑based materials in cement formulations.
Conclusions
- Omya and Lafarge France are accelerating the development of low‑carbon cements, with GBFS and ACS remaining essential mineral components for reducing the clinker factor.
- Çimsa is investing in large‑scale solar infrastructure, lowering CO₂ intensity and supporting the shift toward low‑clinker cement solutions.
2026 shows a clear trend: European cement producers are actively modernising operations and accelerating decarbonisation, strengthening their position in the low‑carbon materials market.