AVIC International Beijing, together with Humboldt Wedag GmbH, has been awarded an order for a state-of-the-art clay calcination plant from Ciments de l’Afrique.
AVIC International Beijing, in collaboration with Humboldt Wedag GmbH (KHD), has been awarded a prestigious contract from Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF) to build a state-of-the-art 900 tons per day clay calcination plant in Burkina Faso.
This turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract includes the supply of equipment, construction, commissioning, and site services. CIMAF, a prominent and innovative player in West Africa, awarded this contract as a key component of its strategy to enhance sustainability.
KHD is responsible for designing and equipping the plant with advanced clay calcination technology focused on sustainability, while AVIC, as the EPC contractor and KHD’s parent company, manages the overall project execution. The project will integrate with the existing clinker grinding line to produce calcined clay cement, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 30%. KHD’s system, based on a two-stage preheater and flash calciner with a pre-combustor, offers flexibility for the future installation of KHD’s Pyrorotor® technology to maximize the use of secondary fuels, further supporting environmentally friendly operations. Additionally, the system will incorporate a color stabilization process to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality grey or black calcined clay.
This project, scheduled to be completed by mid-2026, aligns perfectly with CIMAF’s green transition roadmap, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable practices.
CIMAF Group Vice-President, Malik Sefrioui, commented: “This project is a major piece of our Group decarbonization roadmap, fully financed by IFC under a green loan form. Two other similar projects are being studied and will be launched very soon. The choice of AVIC/KHD is based on their long track record in cement pyroprocessing projects. We are sure that this inaugural partnership will deliver significant added value for both parties”.
KHD’s Chief Technology Officer, Matthias Mersmann, commented: “This joint project with CIMAF represents a milestone for KHD, with clay calcination technology becoming a significant part of our product offerings.”