Tata Steel and Ecocem plan to use steel slag to produce low-carbon cement
08.06.2026
Figure: Tata Steel IJmuiden/Ecocem
The Dutch steel manufacturer Tata Steel IJmuiden and Ecocem have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their collaboration on the development and potential use of two next-generation steel slags for low-carbon cement, mortar, and concrete applications in Europe. This could result in additional alternative cement components for the concrete and precast concrete industry.
The agreement builds on an existing joint research program. The goal is to explore new technical, commercial, and regulatory avenues for the utilization of steel slag from the Tata Steel plant in IJmuiden. The two companies are already collaborating on the use of granulated blast furnace slag in cement and concrete.
The new collaboration focuses on slag from oxygen steel mills as an alternative cement material, as well as on the further development of slag from electric arc furnaces as an additive for cement.
Focus on Alternative Cement Components
By replacing clinker—the most CO₂-intensive component of cement—with alternative materials such as slag, the cement industry can reduce its emissions. At the same time, industrial by-products can be put to higher-value, circular-economy uses.
The project’s goal is to convert byproducts of the steel industry into cement binders or their components. This aims to support the decarbonization of cement and concrete production and promote the principles of the circular economy.
More options for the concrete industry
Furthermore, the partners aim to increase the availability of low-carbon concrete solutions and offer planners, concrete manufacturers, and construction companies additional material options.
“This memorandum of understanding demonstrates our shared commitment to supporting the transition to more sustainable building materials,” explains Pieter Roelofsen, Director of Strategy, M&A, and Partnerships at Tata Steel Nederland. “Exploring innovative applications for steel slag is not only a prerequisite for successfully implementing our Green Steel project. Through this, we also aim to build circular value chains while simultaneously driving the decarbonization of the steel and cement industries.”
Olivier Guise, Executive Director of Strategy, Technology, and Business Development at Ecocem, adds: “This type of collaboration has the potential to fundamentally transform the global cement industry. Together, we are investigating how two previously unused byproducts of steel production could become next-generation alternative cement materials. This would help reduce emissions while creating value from materials that would otherwise go unused.”
According to the companies, the memorandum of understanding underscores their shared commitment to innovation, the circular economy, and the development of low-carbon solutions for the construction industry.
CONTACT
Ecocem Benelux
Plaza 22
4782 SK Moerdijk / Niederlande
+31 168 745 040
Tata Steel Nederland
Wenckebachstraat 1
1951 JZ Velsen-Noord / Niederlande
+31 251 499 111
