Rock Products is the aggregates industry's leading source for market analysis and technology solutions, delivering critical content focusing on aggregates-processing equipment; operational efficiencies; management best practices; comprehensive market
Issue link: https://rock.epubxp.com/i/142549
Venezuela Announces Investment Plan to Boost Cement Production The Venezuelan government will invest about $200 million to boost cement production in the South American country, according to Minister of Industries Ricardo Menéndez. During an inspection of the company Cemento Andino, as part of the actions of the public‐ management model of street government in the state of Trujillo, Menéndez said the objec‐ tive is to increase production until reaching 500 kg of cement per person a year. Menéndez noted that Venezuela produces around 280 kg per capita annually, an out‐ standingly higher figure than the average 150 kg prior to the assumption of power by late President Hugo Chavez. The minister also highlighted the importance of the cement production levels to develop the Great Mission Venezuela Housing, a social pro‐ gram conceived to face lack of housing in the country. Capitol Aggregates Cement to Build Carbon Capture Plant Texas‐based cement producer Capitol Aggre‐ gates Cement, in conjunction with Austin‐ based Skyonic Corporation, is preparing to retrofit the world's first commercial‐scale car‐ bon capture and mineralization plant at its San Antonio facility. The plant is expected to ac‐ count for the profitable removal of more than 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Skyonic will break ground this summer at Capitol Aggregates' San Antonio facility where the Capitol SkyMine carbon capture plant will be retrofitted. The Capitol SkyMine is expected to directly capture 83,000 tons of CO2 from Capitol Aggregates' emissions. Also, by using the captured CO2 to make products that would otherwise generate additional CO2, the plant will offset a further 220,000 tpy, once fully op‐ erational in 2014. metals from the flue gas and mineralize the captured pollutants into safe, stable, solid products. The plant is expected to turn a profit from the sale of these products within three years. Ac‐ cording to Skyonic, because the plant operates at energy‐efficient conditions and produces valuable products using low‐cost chemical in‐ puts, SkyMine captures CO2 at a substantially lower cost than other carbon capture technolo‐ gies, allowing industrial emitters to turn a profit from reduced emissions. Skyonic is expected to create more than 200 jobs through Capitol SkyMine's construction and ongoing operations. "The Capitol SkyMine plant will mark the first time that carbon‐negative chemistry has reached the commercial stage," said Joe Jones, founder and CEO of Skyonic. "Our unique, patented process means that emission prob‐ lems can become emission profits. The carbon‐ negative products produced, which include sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid, will displace the carbon‐positive products cur‐ rently sold. This is a crucial step towards a cleaner global manufacturing industry." Skyonic's electrolytic SkyMine technology will selectively capture CO2, acid gases and heavy www.rockproducts.com ROCKproducts • JULY 2013 51