Nexe plans CO₂NTESSA project for carbon-neutral cement production

Cement plant Nexe in Croatia intends to implement oxyfuel technology as a solution for the long-term elimination of CO2 emissions in its production facilities.

The CO₂NTESSA project, valued at EUR 400 million, is unique in the world, Nexe said at a presentation in Zagreb. The firm added it is applying for up to EUR 200 million from the European Union’s Innovation fund,

It also signed a contract with thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions for engineering and modification of the clinker production process based on the new, second-generation oxyfuel technology.

CO2 will be injected in a depot-saline aquifer

According to Nexe, CO2 will be captured at the source, unlike most other technologies, which act only at the end of the production process.

The innovation enables higher cost-efficiency of the process compared to other CO₂ capture technologies, the firm said.

CO₂NTESSA is spearheading in terms of the scale of the selected technology, as an efficient solution for disposal of captured CO2 by pipeline to location Bockovci-1, where the gas will be injected into a saline aquifer, Nexe added.

The company plans to secure financing by the end of 2024 and start construction in 2026, with the production launch scheduled for 2029, local media reported.

Ergović: Nexe aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of operations

President of the Board of Nexe Ivan Ergović noted the production of cement is an energy-intensive process during which significant CO₂ emissions occur.

Nexe has designed the CO₂NTESSA project aiming to achieve carbon-neutral and cost-efficient cement production from 2029 to ensure the long-term sustainability of operations, he added.

With the project, in his words, the company continues the green transition and creates prerequisites for the production of carbon-neutral cement.

Ruoss: Oxyfuel technology enables optimal capture of the CO2 generated in the production process

According to Frank Ruoss, Member of the Board of thyssenkrupp’s business unit Polysius, the decarbonization of industry is one of the most important tasks of our time.

Polysius’s pure oxyfuel technology enables optimal capture of CO2 generated in the production process and significant contributions to the green transformation of the cement industry.

The use of the new technology moves Nexe a big step further on the way to a green cement plant at the Našice site, Ruoss noted.