Lafarge and Geocycle commission low-carbon fuel plant in Nova Scotia

Lafarge Canada and Geocycle Canada, members of the Holcim Group, and the Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD), have opened a low-carbon fuel plant – a more than $10-million facility located at the Lafarge Canada Brookfield Cement Plant in Nova Scotia.

The new facility will reduce the plant’s reliance on traditional fuels by replacing up to 50 per cent of natural gas used for one of its kilns. This alternative thermal energy is derived from construction demolition waste, primarily discarded wood that would otherwise end up in landfills and emit methane.

“Cement is a vital component of infrastructure projects that contribute to economic growth. By implementing sustainable and innovative solutions to reduce our environmental impact, we’re serving the needs of our customers and the communities in which we operate both now and in the future,” says David Redfern, president and CEO, Lafarge Canada (East). “Our continued collaboration with Geocycle Canada reinforces our commitment to invest and advance circular construction in Canada.”

To mark this milestone, Lafarge and Geocycle recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony which was attended by local leaders and key stakeholders. 

When in full production, the new plant will divert approximately 14,000 tonnes of waste away from landfills annually to be pre-processed into low-carbon fuel, minimizing the Brookfield Cement Plant’s reliance on traditional fossil fuels. It is expected that this will reduce carbon emissions at the plant by more than 12,000 tonnes per year equivalent to taking 13,480 passenger vehicles off the road.

As Geocycle’s first-of-its-kind in the country, the low-carbon fuel plant will take waste products like non-recyclable plastics, and soon, construction and demolition waste materials, from local sources, turning it into low carbon fuels to make cement, and ultimately the concrete used in construction projects in the area and beyond. The new facility is also expected to create jobs in the local Nova Scotia community.

“At Geocycle, our solutions are circular by design,” says Sophie Wu, head of Geocycle North America. “We are happy to take another significant step in our ongoing partnership with Lafarge Canada. This is a great example of our work toward the decarbonization of the construction industry in Canada.”

The project received $3.53 million from the federal government’s Energy Innovation Program (EIP), created to advance clean energy technologies to support Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. “This federal government is pleased to support this project, which is boosting the construction industry in Nova Scotia, leading to economic benefits and a lower-carbon future,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

The plant commissioning started in June 2024 when the Lafarge and Geocycle teams initiated their work with local manufacturers and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to collect their waste to be pre-processed at the new facility. Together, both organizations are working toward finding solutions to decarbonize the construction industry. In May, the companies announced the completion of a polot project to produce high-quality clinker made of recycled materials recovered from waste sources (clinker is the main ingredient in cement, the active ingredient in concrete).

For further information about this facility, click here.

Featured image: The Geocycle facility where cleaner fuels are produced is across the street from Lafarge’s cement factory. Credit: Lafarge Canada Inc.