EMSTEEL, one of the largest publicly traded steel and building materials manufacturers in the region, has signed a strategic partnership with Finnish company Magsort to produce decarbonized cement, announcing a major milestone in its decarbonization journey.
The agreement follows the success the Group has had in implementing an industrial-scale pilot for decarbonized cement production at its Al Ain facility through utilizing 10,000 tons of materials that reduce carbon, which has been developed by incorporating steel-slag.
Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi Group CEO – EMSTEEL
“This is a proud moment for EMSTEEL and a strong signal of what is possible when innovation meets ambition. By transforming steel slag into a valuable input for cement, we are not only cutting emissions but also proving the commercial value of industrial circularity. Our integrated model is unlocking real results, and this milestone is a testament to our commitment to accelerate our decarbonization journey and help deliver the UAE’s Net Zero vision.”
Hugo Losada, CEO of Emirates Cement, part of EMSTEEL Group, said that, “This milestone represents an important step in our decarbonization journey. Proving the technical and commercial viability of this decarbonization effort is a promising sign that we will be able to achieve our objective of hitting the 2030 decarbonization targets by 2026. We look forward to continuing this very fruitful cooperation with Magsort over the years to come.”
“We are extremely happy in achieving this key milestone in Abu Dhabi. The cooperation with Emirates Cement has been incredibly productive and this facility serves as a large-scale example for the industry on how to achieve significant CO₂ reduction with today’s technology and existing materials. It’s a clear win-win for the cement and steel industries. We would like to thank Emirates Cement for leading the way and taking action,” noted Kalevi Kostiainen, CEO of Magsort.
EMSTEEL Group’s pilot provides a unique use case for complementary operations between its two main business lines: Steel and Cement. This is achieved by incorporating steel slag at scale as raw material for clinker and cement production, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to driving sustainability in the sector. Due to its diverse product range, EMSTEEL is uniquely positioned to pioneer a viable and practical circular economy case study.
According to the statement, this simultaneously underscores EMSTEEL’s strategic capability to expedite decarbonization efforts across diverse sectors and strengthens its standing as a regional sustainability leader setting new benchmarks for industrial innovation in developing low-carbon cement.
This initiative is a core component of EMSTEEL’s decarbonization strategy. The company aims to achieve a 40 percent reduction in absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its Steel Business Unit and by 30 percent reduction in its Cement Business Unit by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline year. EMSTEEL remains firmly committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
