Votorantim Cimentos announced the start of operation of a new production line at its cement site in the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. As a result of this expansion, the unit now has a production capacity of approximately 1 million tonnes of cement per year. Before the expansion, the site's cement grinding capacity was 200,000 tonnes per year. The volume produced in the new site will enhance the supply of the metropolitan area of Fortaleza.
Votorantim Cimentos invested approximately R$ 200 million in the project, which was constructed over three years and, in line with the company's sustainability strategy, prioritized energy efficiency and industrial automation by incorporating state-of-the-art equipment. During construction and start of operation, the unit generated more than 600 direct and indirect jobs.
New production line in Pecém will manufacture Poty Cement – All Constructions. The product would offer more protection against sea air.
Votorantim Cimentos' new production line in Pecém includes a new vertical cement mill that consumes less electricity. Another sustainable technology incorporated into the new mill is a closed refrigeration circuit that reduces the production of effluents. This system reuses water to cool the equipment, providing a 90% reduction in the consumption of water resources.
State-of-the-art technologies incorporated into the plant extension in Ceará will also enable the company to produce a more sustainable product. The new cement production process in Pecém emits 60% less CO2 per tonne than the previous process.
