Commissioner Hoekstra visits Ecocem’s Dunkirk facility to highlight decisive role in Europe’s industrial decarbonisation

As the EU advances initiatives to tackle carbon-intensive industry across the continent – such as the recently-proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) – Commissioner Hoekstra’s visit underscores the key role of cement decarbonisation in strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness and climate leadership. The Dunkirk plant – which is one of Ecocem’s four European facilities – is undergoing a significant expansion, with the addition of a €50 million plant dedicated to the production of ACT, Ecocem’s breakthrough low-carbon cement technology. ACT was developed with the single-minded goal of decarbonising the sector, due to its ability to scale globally and achieve CO₂ reductions of up to 70% compared to conventional European cement.

When fully operational at the end of 2026, the site will have a production capacity of 300 000 tpy of ACT cement, delivering deep emissions reductions cost competitively and without compromising on performance. This new capacity is on top of the 700 000 tpy of low carbon products already produced at the site.

During a recent high-level policy dialogue on the future of Europe’s cement industry, Commissioner Hoekstra brought together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss accelerating the decarbonisation of the cement sector, prioritising low-carbon products and scalable solutions.

With its strength, workability and durability proven in numerous real-world applications, ACT offers a rapid and low-cost pathway to reducing emissions in the cement industry, which is responsible for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions.

Commenting on the visit, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said: “Following on from the Cement Dialogue earlier this month, it is important to get out of our offices in the Berlaymont and see real industrial decarbonisation on the ground. Here in Dunkirk, Ecocem is building a first-of-a-kind plant for its low-carbon ACT technology, demonstrating what is already possible today.

“This visit highlights the progress being made towards decarbonising one of Europe’s most emissions-intensive sectors. It also underlines the clear opportunity for the EU to take a leading position in the decarbonisation of the global cement sector, delivering our climate objectives and strengthening industrial competitiveness and achieving more independence.

“What I have seen here at Ecocem is exactly the type of solution Europe should be supporting as we accelerate industrial decarbonisation.”

Donal O’Riain, Founder and CEO of Ecocem, said: “We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate to Commissioner Hoekstra and the wider EU policy community that scalable, cost-effective cement decarbonisation is no longer a future ambition; it’s possible right now.

“Our first-of-a-kind ACT facility positions France and Europe at the forefront of decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness.

“To unlock this potential at scale, Europe must get behind cleantech innovations such as ACT, by creating lead markets for low-carbon cement solutions and ensuring scale-up funding for these technologies. This will enable the maximum possible impact this decade.”

The Dunkirk production plant forms part of Ecocem’s broader €220 million investment programme to significantly expand the company’s low-carbon cement production facilities in Europe by 2030.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/16042026/commissioner-hoekstra-visits-ecocems-dunkirk-facility-to-highlight-decisive-role-in-europes-industrial-decarbonisation/