Drone footage of a cement plant

HeidelbergCement and Enbridge team up to advance full-scale CO₂ storage project in Canada

  • HeidelbergCement subsidiary Lehigh Cement and Enbridge Inc. agree to collaborate on a carbon transport and storage solution
  • Full-scale CCU/S facility at Lehigh’s Edmonton plant will capture 780,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually
  • Planned integration into the Open Access Wabamun Carbon hub with a combined capture potential of nearly 4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually

HeidelbergCement’s North American subsidiary Lehigh Cement and Enbridge Inc. have  announced a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a carbon storage project for Lehigh’s cement plant in Edmonton, Alberta. Lehigh is currently developing North America’s first full-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCU/S) solution for the cement industry at its Canadian Edmonton cement plant, with the goal of capturing approximately 780,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Captured emissions are to be transported via pipeline and permanently sequestered by Enbridge. Subject to the award of carbon sequestration rights and regulatory approvals, the project could be in service as early as 2025.

Edmonton is one of several cement plants throughout the world where HeidelbergCement is currently deploying and scaling up different technologies and solutions to substantially reduce CO₂ emissions. “As carbon capture and storage plays a decisive role on our journey towards net zero emissions, creating the infrastructure needed to scale up the technology is a key strategic priority for us,” said Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement: “Strong local partnerships for smart carbon hub solutions are essential for the successful implementation of the various ambitious CCU/S initiatives within HeidelbergCement.” The company targets CO₂ reductions of up to 10 million tonnes with several CCU/S projects already underway by 2030. 

With the support of HeidelbergCement’s subsidiary Lehigh and other partners, Enbridge will be applying to develop an open access carbon hub west of Edmonton, Alberta. Once built, the Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub will be among the largest integrated CCU/S projects in the world, with a combined capture potential of nearly 4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. 

“Lehigh Cement’s pioneering CCU/S project is an exciting addition to our proposed Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub, which is poised to support the decarbonisation of multiple industries, including power generation, oil and gas, and now cement,” said Colin Gruending, Enbridge Executive Vice President and President, Liquids Pipelines. “This collaboration demonstrates our focus on local, cost-effective, customer-focused carbon transportation and storage solutions that drive scale and competitiveness while minimising infrastructure footprint to protect land, water and the environment.”

About HeidelbergCement

HeidelbergCement is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement, and ready-mixed concrete. Around 53,000 employees at more than 3,000 locations in over 50 countries deliver long-term financial performance through operational excellence and openness for change. At the center of actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As forerunner on the path to carbon neutrality, HeidelbergCement crafts material solutions for the future.

About Enbridge Inc. 

Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. The company safely and reliably delivers the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life. Its core businesses include Liquids Pipelines, which transports approximately 25 percent of the crude oil produced in North America; Gas Transmission and Midstream, which transports approximately 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.; Gas Distribution and Storage, which serves approximately 3.8 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec; and Renewable Power Generation, which owns approximately 1,766 MW (net) in renewable power capacity in North America and Europe. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.

Christoph Beumelburg

Christoph Beumelburg

Group Spokesman, Director Group Communication & Investor Relations

Heidelberg Materials AG Berliner Straße 6
69120 Heidelberg
Germany