LafargeHolcim unveils salinity-resistant cement for coastal areas

LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC (LHB) has launched a new salinity- and sulphate-resistant cement, branded “Holcim Coastal Guard”, aiming to capture the 30-lakh-tonne market in the country’s south-western and south-eastern coastal regions.

The cement is designed to address the growing environmental challenges in coastal areas, where structures are often exposed to saline and sulphate-rich conditions, according to a press statement issued recently.

The product has been developed through the company’s in-house innovation and manufacturing capabilities in collaboration with the Innovation Center of Holcim Group in Lyon, France, leveraging the group’s Smart Blend Technology.

Bangladesh’s annual cement demand stands at around 4 crore tonnes, of which LafargeHolcim Bangladesh supplies approximately 42 lakh tonnes, said Thuhidul Islam, head of communications, CSR and sustainability at LHB, quoting the company’s technical experts.

“We have launched ‘Holcim Coastal Guard’, targeting an annual demand of three million tonnes across the coastal districts -- Khulna, Satkhira, Bagherhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Chandpur, Bhola, Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur, Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram,” he said.

Chemical factories, government sanitation projects, and effluent and sewage treatment plants (ETPs and STPs) also have demand for this type of cement, he added.

He claimed that LHB is the first in Bangladesh to receive approval and introduce cement in this category.

Holcim Coastal Guard is engineered to combat the rapid deterioration of structures exposed to sulphate- and chloride-rich soils, coastal groundwater and chemical attacks in water and effluent treatment plants, ensuring longer-lasting and more resilient construction.

Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, commercial and logistics director of LHB, said, “This product has been developed through continuous consumer engagement, research, and a thorough understanding of the saline and sulphate impact on structures.”

Inaugurating the product as the chief guest at a city hotel in Khulna recently, he added, “We believe that Holcim Coastal Guard will help our customers build homes that remain resilient against harsh environmental challenges, providing unmatched protection against coastal erosion and decay.”