en.Wedoany.com Reported - Holcim's new cement plant at the Port of Tilbury in the UK has officially commenced the import and distribution of cementitious materials, marking the start of wet commissioning and the first operational step in reshaping cement supply in high-demand regions of the UK.
The cement plant combines deep-water shipping access, large-scale storage, automated logistics, and modular grinding and blending systems, the latter of which are scheduled to come online later in 2026. By deploying high-capacity processing capabilities in high-demand areas, the project strengthens Holcim's national network, reducing reliance on long-distance inland transportation and enhancing supply chain resilience.
Tim Fry, Project Manager at Holcim UK, stated that launching the import and distribution of cementitious materials represents a significant milestone for the Tilbury cement plant and for Holcim's ability to serve customers in the Southeast, demonstrating the strength of the systems built from maritime logistics to storage and dispatch. As construction is completed and full operations commence in 2026, Tilbury will provide flexibility, reliability, and capacity to support customers with a range of conventional, low-carbon, and circular cementitious materials.
The flagship Tilbury facility supports 24/7 operations, including a new ship-to-shore conveyor system, enclosed belt conveyors, and the UK's first 30,000-tonne cement dome silo. Materials are transferred directly from ships to storage, then processed and dispatched via six loading spouts and five weighbridges.
Located at a deep-water berth capable of receiving large bulk carriers, the facility operates as part of Holcim's global logistics network, improving economies of scale and reducing freight-related emissions. The facility will also be served by the NACC Sustament, expected to enter service in 2027, which will be the world's largest and most sustainable cement carrier, operating on green methanol.
The next major milestone will be the completion and commissioning of the vertical roller mill (VRM) later in 2026, which will grind granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and recycled concrete fines (RCF) to produce ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and blended cements.
The full product line, including Holcim's ECOPlanet low-carbon cement and ECOPlanet with ECOCycle circular materials, will be launched in early 2027. The terminal is designed with forward-looking flexibility to handle future materials such as calcined clay, supporting the UK's transition to low-carbon construction.
Mohamed Alami, Managing Director of Holcim UK Cement, stated that Tilbury is a transformative investment for Holcim UK, supporting ECOPlanet low-carbon cement and ECOPlanet with ECOCycle, and accelerating the transition to low-carbon and circular construction, reflecting the company's commitment to sustainable building and building a resilient, future-ready supply chain.
The construction of the Tilbury cement plant itself also follows circular principles, with 25,000 cubic metres of concrete crushed and reused on site, 10,000 tonnes of recycled asphalt incorporated into Holcim's asphalt products, and 20,000 tonnes of excavated materials processed through the company's recycling centre.
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