en.Wedoany.com Reported - The catch4climate carbon dioxide capture project, implemented by CI4C, a company jointly established by several cement enterprises, has officially commenced operations. The project is carried out on a dedicated rotary kiln production line at the Mergelstetten plant, utilizing Pure Oxyfuel technology, aiming to lay the foundation for large-scale deployment of carbon capture technology in the European cement industry. The total investment exceeds €120 million, with a clinker production capacity of 450 metric tons per day. The facility is used entirely for research purposes and does not utilize public funds. thyssenkrupp Polysius is responsible for designing the Pure Oxyfuel process applied in this plant.

CI4C GmbH & Co. KG, a research company founded in 2019 by Buzzi SpA/Dyckerhoff, Heidelberg Materials, SCHWENK Zement, and Vicat, is responsible for implementing the catch4climate flagship project to jointly study carbon dioxide capture technology in the cement production process.

After seven years of planning and development, the plant has entered the operational phase. Key milestones before the inauguration ceremony include the first production of clinker at the end of May 2026 and the first supply of oxygen in mid-June 2026. The objectives of the initial operational activities have been fully achieved.

The Pure Oxyfuel process replaces air with pure oxygen for combustion, generating a high-concentration carbon dioxide stream, thereby simplifying the capture process required for subsequent storage or industrial reuse. The project aims to develop the technical foundation and expertise necessary for large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide capture technology in the European cement industry, reducing unavoidable process-related carbon dioxide emissions.