Kenya: The Daily Nation newspaper has reported the value of contracts of various concrete pole suppliers to utilities provider Kenya Power. Bett Company, a subsidiary of China-based Zhai Yan Quan and Yang Yi, holds contracts worth US$1.49m, Line Enterprises holds contracts worth US$1.35m and Rai Cement holds contracts worth US$920,000.

Kenya Power is in the process of expanding its power supply network using concrete poles, with financial backing from the EU, European Investment Bank, French Development Agency and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

US: Authorities have issued a notice of violation to Orgain Ready Mix Concrete for an alleged spillage of concrete into the Red River near its Clarksville, Tennessee, ready-mix concrete plant. Local press has reported that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation received reports of materials dumped at a location along the road from the site. A subsequent investigation found ‘cementitious staining’ and ‘solids-laden discharges’ on the riverbank.

US: Carbon Limit has announced the launch of CoolCrete, an additive designed to lower the temperature of concrete by over 10°C through advanced thermal emittance and enhanced solar reflectance. The company says that CoolCrete-treated concrete will help to tackle the urban heat island effect. By reducing the proportion of cement in concrete, it also lowers its CO₂ emissions by up to 40%. Licensed affiliates Bison Innovative Products and NCP Industries are set to incorporate CoolCrete in commercial and residential concrete products later in 2024.

The launch page for CoolCrete on Carbon Limit’s website can be found here.

US: Princeton University researchers Shashank Gupta and Reza Moini have developed an extra-strength hollow concrete based on the tubular structure of the femur bone. The concrete offers 5.6 times greater strength than conventional concrete by isolating cracks. BGR News has reported that the developments are applicable to commercial concrete production through 3D printing or precast concrete casting.