Japanese cement company invests in Australian mineral carbonisation technology

Four of Japan’s largest organisations have made investments in MCi Carbon, an Australian cleantech company pioneering mineral carbonation technology.

Mitsubishi UBE Cement Corporation (MUCC) is the latest investor. Japan’s second largest cement company has invested US$5 million in MCi Carbon, its first in the field of mineral carbonation and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU). 

MUCC joins ITOCHU Corporation, Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank as investors in MCi Carbon. MUCC, ITOCHU Corporation and MCi Carbon have also signed a memorandum of understanding to advance MUCC’s adoption of MCi Carbon’s technology in Japan.

Helping decarbonise the Japanese cement industry

MCi is on a mission to lock away 1 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2040. The company has developed a technology that combines captured CO2 with a mineral feedstock – including industrial wastes like steel slag, mine tailings or raw quarried minerals – to produce magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and amorphous silica. These new products can be formulated into cements, concretes, plasterboards, papers, glass, and other industrial products.

MUCC’s investment will support the commissioning of ‘Myrtle’, MCi Carbon’s state-of-the-art mineral carbonation demonstration plant in Newcastle. One of the first of its kind in the world, the plant will showcase mineral carbonation’s commercial scalability to the world.

Advancing CCU technology

MUCC has identified the early commercialisation of CCU as a key initiative in its sustainability plans. The company considers mineral carbonation to be a critical development in the utilisation of CO₂. It is advancing discussions on introducing CO₂ capture technology and establishing a CO₂ utilisation scheme.

MUCC’s investment will help reduce CO2 emissions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries within one of the world’s largest economies. By abating CO2 emissions and developing novel low-carbon materials, MCi Carbon’s technology will help Japan accelerate the decarbonisation of its cement and concrete industries.

Suzuki Kazuhiro, the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, attended the foundation ceremony for the Myrtle facility in April 2024.

‘The Japanese Government recognises the great potential in developing CCUS technologies,’ he says. ‘The technology MCi Carbon is developing will enable CO2 to be captured in a stable manner in minerals. This is a prominent option for reducing CO2 emissions in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and concrete production. The Myrtle project symbolises collaborative investment between Japan and Australia.’

CCUS opportunities in Australia

International companies are exploring carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) opportunities in Australia. The country offers several comparative advantages when it comes to CCUS development, including:

• geology
• landmass
• existing infrastructure
• potential for cheap, renewable energy resources.

These features offer opportunities for domestic and international CO2 transport, storage and utilisation. There are currently 18 CCS projects at various stages of progress in Australia (including 2 test facilities). Current planned projects are forecast to sequester 20 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2035.

Read more about Australia’s CCUS advantages.