The Vicat group launches the VAIA project as an accelerator of the decarbonization ambitions
Following the signing of the ecological transition contract with the French government as part of the national strategy for decarbonizing the 50 most CO₂-emitting industrial sites, Vicat confirms its ambition with the launch of the VAIA project (Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance).
Following the signing of the ecological transition contract with the French government as part of the national strategy for decarbonizing the 50 most CO₂-emitting industrial sites, Vicat confirms its ambition with the launch of the VAIA project (Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance). This project will capture and sequester 1.2 million tons of CO₂ per year at the Montalieu-Vercieu site (Isère), making it the first cement plant in France to achieve such a high level of environmental performance.
A Major Step for the Ecological Transition
Vicat has set a goal of reducing its CO₂ emissions to a net target of 497 kg CO₂ per ton of cement equivalent at the Group level, a reduction of nearly 25% compared to 2015. The aim is to reach 430 kg CO₂ per ton in Europe by 2030, before the implementation of CO₂ capture.
As part of its "From Low Carbon to Zero Carbon" initiative announced in 2024, which aims to accelerate the Group’s climate roadmap, Vicat reaffirms its ambition to develop major decarbonization projects for residual emissions from its plants in Lebec, California, and Montalieu-Vercieu, France. These projects focus on emerging technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) to capture, store, or reuse CO₂ generated from cement production, for instance in the production of synthetic fuels.
In December, the Group announced the completion of a cooperation agreement between its subsidiary, National Cement Company of California Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, for the development of the Lebec Net Zero project. This project includes a system for capturing, transporting, and storing CO₂. By leveraging multiple decarbonization levers, it enables an emissions reduction of around 950,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year—virtually eliminating the cement plant’s emissions.
The VAIA Project: A Flagship for Decarbonizing the Rhône Corridor
With the same ambition of moving towards Zero Carbon production, Vicat is preparing to launch an equivalent project at its Montalieu-Vercieu plant in Isère, Vicat’s main production site in France. This plant has an annual production capacity of over 2 million tons of cement and is identified as one of the 50 most CO₂-emitting industrial sites in the country.
The VAIA (Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance) project focuses on capturing and utilizing 1.2 million tons of CO₂ per year, representing nearly 100% of the plant’s emissions. This effort complements Vicat’s existing decarbonization initiatives, including reducing clinker content, substituting fossil fuels, and improving energy efficiency. Equivalent to removing 75,000 combustion-engine cars from circulation a year, the captured CO₂ will be transported via an existing pipeline—converted into a “carbon pipeline”—to Fos-sur-Mer, where it will be liquefied and permanently sequestered in geological reservoirs. The project involves collaboration with several expert industrial partners:
- SPSE for CO₂ transport and pipeline conversion into a carbon pipeline
- Elengy for CO₂ liquefaction
- RTE for energy supply to the capture and liquefaction sites
- ENI for geological CO₂ storage
Beyond decarbonizing the cement industry, Vicat, through VAIA, aims to enhance the socio-economic attractiveness of the region while fostering a carbon-neutral industry. The project is expected to create a thousand jobs during the construction phase and over 30 permanent jobs during operations.
The completion of the VAIA project is subject to obtaining public financial support.
The completion of the VAIA project depends on securing public financial support. The project aligns with governmental ambitions for industrial sovereignty and decarbonization. Vicat will submit an application to the European "Innovation Fund" program in the first half of 2025, and in France, it will apply for funding under the aid program for large-scale industrial decarbonization projects (GPID), launched in December 2024. Vicat has already responded to the preliminary Call for Expressions of Interest.
At the same time, Vicat is committed to ensuring transparency and public participation, engaging with local authorities, environmental associations, and economic stakeholders.
"With the VAIA project, Vicat would take a decisive step in decarbonizing the French cement industry, offering to one of the country’s most industrialized regions—from the plains of Ain to Marseille—a unique opportunity for decarbonization. This project demonstrates our ambition to contribute to the necessary decarbonization of our industry while maintaining its competitiveness and supporting France’s economic sovereignty. It is possible to preserve industrial activities in our region while drastically reducing CO₂ emissions, paving the way for a scalable technological model for the entire sector," commented Guy Sidos, Chairman and CEO of the Vicat Group.
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Laurence TOVI
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Raphael Hinninger
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About the VICAT Group
For 170 years, VICAT has been a leading industrial player in the field of mineral-based and bio-based construction materials. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Paris (part of the SBF 120 index) and remains controlled in majority by its founding family. Committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, Vicat operates in three main businesses: Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete (RMC), and Aggregates, along with complementary activities. Present in 12 countries, developed and emerging, the cement group employs nearly 10,000 people and generated consolidated revenue of €3.884 billion in 2024.
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