Holcim UK appoint new carbon capture project director
Jan-Willem Verkaik appointed to accelerate company’s ambition to produce net-zero cement
HOLCIM UK have appointed Jan-Willem Verkaik to lead the new carbon capture project at their cement plant in Cauldon, Staffordshire. The appointment comes as Holcim look to accelerate their ambition to achieve net-zero cement production.
Mr Verkaik brings more than 30 years’ project-management experience, having overseen the planning and execution of major gas developments worldwide in countries such as Norway, Iraq, the UAE, and Russia.
He is now using his expertise to manage the development of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant at Cauldon, supporting Holcim’s broader decarbonization goals.
The manufacturing of cement emits CO2 through the heating of raw materials, but CCS technology reduces these industrial carbon emissions by capturing the emissions at source either for re-use or for storage underground.
Investment in CCS is regarded as an essential step in delivering Holcim UK’s own sustainability goals, as well as the net-zero ambitions and regulations of the UK and the EU.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Verkaik said: ‘My passion is keeping our industries competitive, and there is no better place to realize this than in the building materials industries in the UK and Europe. Carbon capture is a vital part of this, especially when it comes to cement and concrete production.
‘I’m delighted to join a team of specialists at Holcim and to lead the Cauldon CCS project in an industry that’s striving to meet net-zero carbon emissions. Our goal is to make sustainable construction a reality in the UK, in turn improving the lives of people.’
Mohamed Ben Driss Alami, managing director of the cement business at Holcim UK, said: ‘We are delighted to have someone with the experience and calibre of Jan-Willem leading our carbon capture project at Cauldon. His passion for sustainable industry and extensive relevant knowledge will be crucial in leading the project to success and realizing our ambitions.’
In his new role, Mr Verkaik will also be supporting the broader venture by various industry partners under the Peak Cluster development – an innovative collaboration of leading industries looking to capture, transport, and permanently store CO2 created in product manufacturing. Peak Cluster aims to cut annual carbon emissions from the involved partners by three million tonnes a year from 2032.
