Fortera and MLC plan to build a commercial plant for Fortera’s low carbon cement technology at MLC’s site in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The proposed facility is expected to produce 300,000 tons of cement annually by converting carbon dioxide captured from lime production into a reactive cement for use in building materials.
The project will use Fortera’s ReAct cement technology, which incorporates captured carbon dioxide into the finished product. According to MLC, the resulting cement would contain nearly 50 percent captured CO2 by weight and is designed to meet or exceed the performance of traditional cement.
The companies selected MLC’s Ste. Genevieve operation because of its scale and location. Situated in the central Midwest along the Mississippi River, the site offers access to markets across much of the United States and internationally.
The proposed facility also aims to support domestic cement production. According to the U.S. Geological Survey figures cited in the source, imports accounted for approximately 21 percent of U.S. cement consumption in 2025.
Fortera Technology Converts Captured CO2 Into Cement
Fortera’s ReAct technology is designed to transform captured carbon dioxide from lime production into a usable cement product. By incorporating the captured CO2 into the finished material, the process aims to address emissions associated with lime and cement manufacturing.
Cement production accounts for about 8 percent of global CO2 emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The proposed plant would use an existing emissions stream from MLC’s lime operation as an input for cement production.
Ryan Gilliam, CEO and co-founder of Fortera, said, “The Ste. Genevieve plant marks a new era for American cement production, one where technology turns emissions into a high-quality product the market needs while creating lasting local jobs. Building alongside the largest lime operation in the Americas lets us turn an existing emissions stream into hundreds of thousands of tons of cement to meet demand that already exists.”
The project would establish the first commercial plant for Fortera’s low carbon cement technology, according to the announcement. Its planned annual output of 300,000 tons would bring the technology into commercial-scale production at an established industrial site.
Lime Production Provides an Emissions Source
The project also addresses emissions from lime manufacturing, particularly calcination. This process involves heating limestone to produce lime and is a significant source of direct emissions for the lime industry.
MLC says calcination accounts for approximately 60 percent of the lime industry’s direct emissions. Fortera’s technology is intended to convert captured carbon dioxide from this process into a cement product, creating an alternative use for emissions generated during production.
“While MLC has reduced our carbon footprint by 8 percent since 2022, and I am proud of that progress, current technologies will only take us so far,” says Paul Hogan, CEO of MLC who is also currently president of NLA. “Lime producers need practical solutions to capture calcination emissions. Fortera has developed an innovative approach that not only reduces the amount of carbon we release; it also turns it into a valuable product.”
The National Lime Association aims to decarbonize the U.S. lime industry by 2050. The proposed plant represents an approach to using captured emissions as a feedstock for another construction material rather than treating them solely as a waste stream.
Missouri Site Offers Access to Cement Markets
The Ste. Genevieve site was selected for its industrial scale and geographic position. Its location on the Mississippi River in the central Midwest could support the delivery of cement to customers across much of the United States and to international markets.
According to MLC, cement produced at the facility is expected to serve markets across the Midwest. Potential users include Ozinga, a fifth-generation, family-owned company that supplies ready-mixed concrete and building materials.
Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga, said, “Scaling the next generation of cement requires more than innovative technology. It requires strong partnerships across our industry. Fortera’s ongoing work with Ozinga represents the kind of collaboration needed to bring lower-carbon cement solutions to commercial scale while strengthening domestic manufacturing and ensuring we can continue to deliver the performance and reliability our customers expect.”
The expected use of the cement in the Midwest would connect the proposed production facility with the region’s construction materials market. The project also brings together cement technology development, lime production and a ready-mixed concrete and building materials supplier.
Commercial Production Targets Lower Carbon Cement
The planned facility combines MLC’s existing lime production operation with Fortera’s process for producing cement from captured carbon dioxide. Its proposed capacity of 300,000 tons annually would create a commercial outlet for the resulting material.
By using captured emissions as an input, the project aims to reduce emissions associated with lime and cement production while manufacturing a product designed to perform comparably to traditional cement. Its potential contribution will depend on the facility’s development and the resulting cement’s production and market deployment.
The project also aligns with efforts to expand domestic cement manufacturing and develop alternative production methods for construction materials. Fortera and MLC plan to advance the commercial plant at Ste. Genevieve, with the site’s scale and location expected to support distribution across U.S. and international markets.