Recently, the European Union’s "Red Mud Activation for the Production of Sustainable Cement" (ReActiv) joint project held a progress meeting, marking the official launch of the ReActiv project. Forty-five participants from 21 partners from all over the countries conducted project exchanges. The meeting revealed that the preliminary results of the research project are very optimistic, and the alliance will continue to promote further research.

It is understood that the ReActiv project is an innovative action plan funded by the European Commission. It was launched in November 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. The total funding budget is 8.8 million euros. The purpose of the ReActiv project is to create a new sustainable symbiosis value chain that links the red mud with the cement production industry, through the ReActiv technology to change the nature of the red mud, and transform it into an active material which is suitable for new type low carbon dioxide emission cement products, so as to realize the use of red mud to produce cement, instead of 30% of the clinker.

At the project meeting, the alliance released the technical route of the ReActiv project. The person in charge of the project said that due to the lack of a large-scale, sustainable comprehensive utilization plan, most of the global red mud is currently being stockpiled, and the new red mud is still increasing. At present, the output of cement clinker is about 100 million tons per year. If the ReActiv technology can be used to successfully modify the red mud and produce alternative clinker, this will be a win-win solution for the two major industries of aluminum and cement.

The International Aluminum Association (IAI) also released a road map for the use of red mud at the meeting to maximize the use of red mud for cement and concrete products. The road map for the use of red mud provides information on solving possible problems, prejudices, technical and legislative obstacles in the use of red mud, and proposes 6 key ways to promote product applications: one is to solve existing obstacles and add knowledge; the second is to establish a joint research project among alumina, cement and concrete manufacturers to investigate the use of red mud in Portland cement clinker (PCC) or auxiliary cementitious material (SCM) for mixed cement and develop technology approval documents; the third is to demonstrate the carbon dioxide emission reduction benefits that can be achieved by using red mud in the PCC and SCM used for mixed cement; the fourth is to determine the willingness and preparations to add red mud to the PCC and SCM used for mixed cement; the fifth is to encourage the use of red mud in cement concrete products to further develop a circular economy; the sixth is to promote the use of red mud in PCC and SCM in procurement and public procurement policies.

It is reported that the Reactiv project brings together 21 partners with different knowledge and technologies from 12 countries, including 1 cement company, 7 alumina companies, 2 alumina associations, 5 universities, 1 scientific research institution and 5 SME consulting agencies, etc.