SCHWENK Latvija prepares for a large-scale investment cycle to decarbonize cement production in Brocēni

After several years of feasibility studies building materials producer SCHWENK Latvija will start testing carbon capture technology and equipment at the Brocēni cement plant next year. This initiative is part of an overall strategy at SCHWENK with a clear goal and commitment to reducing climate and environmental impact while driving decarbonization in the cement industry. 

After the successful implementation of the pilot project, the collected data will be analyzed to make further investment decisions. The expected costs for a large-scale carbon capture plant are estimated at around EUR 500 million €. 

Cement is an irreplaceable construction material, but its production accounts for about 8% of Latvia's total CO₂ emissions. As the leading manufacturer of building materials, SCHWENK Latvija is committed to actively addressing this challenge. Over the past 14 years, the company has already managed to reduce CO₂ emissions in cement production by 37%. Further investments can help to reduce this indicator to almost zero. 

First carbon capture pilot project in Latvia

The project phase implemented in 2025 envisages the testing of carbon capture technologies. Already in spring 2025, the carbon capture test facilities will be launched in Brocēni, which will capture two tons of CO₂ per day as part of the pilot project. It will continue until the end of 2025 and the data collected during this phase will be used to prepare for the full implementation of a capturing technology. It is planned that a full-scale project will be able to capture up to 800 thousand tons of CO₂ per year.

"The development of carbon capture technologies will significantly change the cement industry, allowing to reduce CO₂ emissions to almost zero," emphasizes Reinhold Schneider, Chairman of the Board of "SCHWENK Latvija" and CEO of SCHWENK Northern Europe. "It enables the conversion of CO₂ from a residual product into a raw material and opens up opportunities for the development of new industries and value chains. Given the technologies currently available, this is the most effective path for the sustainability of the industry and the future competitiveness of Latvian manufacturers."

After several years of research, SCHWENK Latvija chose hot potassium carbonate technology from the Norwegian company Capsol Technologies for the pilot project, which ensures a high CO₂ capture efficiency in combination with relatively low energy consumption and which does not affect the basic cement production process. The final decision on a large-scale introduction of a technology is planned for 2027.

The demand for environmentally friendly materials is growing

The Brocēni plant is already one of the most environmentally friendly and technologically advanced in Europe. Over the past five years, SCHWENK Latvija has invested EUR 71 million to reduce the impact on the environment and increase production efficiency. 

The international role of the company

SCHWENK Latvija is part of the German SCHWENK Building Materials Group and employs more than 350 people in Latvia. The company offers its customers high-quality cement, aggregates and ready-mix.  About 70% of the cement produced in Brocēni is exported to Estonia, Sweden and Finland. As the demand for more environmentally friendly building materials grows rapidly in the Nordic markets, SCHWENK Latvija is confident that the green production strategy will not only significantly reduce environmental impact but also strengthen the company's competitiveness.