St. Marys Cement receives $2.2M re-investment for lower-carbon kiln

ST. MARYS — The Canadian government re-invests up to $2.2 million of recycled industrial pollution pricing revenues to fund a major new emissions reduction project at St. Marys Cement in St. Marys, Ontario.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault made the funding announcement saying, “We are holding heavy industry accountable for their pollution, re-investing those revenues into projects that create good jobs and cut pollution. The re-investment of up to $2.2 million…is just one example of how we have a plan that is building a cleaner, more sustainable future for all generations. This project not only benefits the community of St. Marys, Ontario, but helps build a more sustainable future for many generations of Canadians to come.”

With this funding, St. Marys Cement, which is part of the Votorantim Cimentos group, is installing a new specialty cement kiln infrastructure that uses lower-carbon fuels, including discarded plastics, to replace up to 30 per cent of the high-carbon fuels required for the manufacturing process.

“At Votorantim Cimentos, we are determined to be part of the solution to reduce the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the circular economy, as well as by investing in new technologies and innovation and pursuing a renewable energy matrix. In 2023, Votorantim Cimentos reduced CO2 emissions by 15 per cent, compared to 2010, achieving 556 kg of CO2 per tonne of cementitious material,” said Jorge Wagner, CEO, Votorantim Cimentos North America.

The technology will cut over 39,900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, the equivalent of taking over 9,400 gas-powered cars off the road for a year. As a member of Canada’s Net Zero Challenge, St. Marys Cement is implementing its plan to transition its facilities and operations to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

This is just one of many projects funded through the industrial pricing system in Ontario and the revenue-return program called the Decarbonization Incentive Program (DIP), which re-invests revenues taken from heavy industry through the price on pollution and puts it toward eligible facilities for energy efficiency and emission-cutting projects.