Lafarge Exshaw cement plant (LafargeHolcim group) will receive funding for environmental improvements from a new Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) innovations fund for industry in Alberta, Canada. The new fund is a US$70m scheme that derives from Alberta's climate leadership plan and will leverage more than US$200m in 11 provincial projects that are forecast to eliminate 5.3Mt of CO2 leakage.

Kate Strachan, plant manager for Lafarge Exshaw cement plant, said the money will help the company better understand environmental benefits. "The Exshaw low-carbon fuels project will go a long way in helping us reach our ambitious corporate goal to produce 40 per cent less net CO2/t of cement by 2030. This support from ERA helps us move this project forward," said Ms Strachan.

"We hope that any positive results or lessons learned will encourage others in our industry to do the same, giving this investment a greater, far-reaching impact."