Carib Cement cuts water use 16% as sustainability agenda broadens

Caribbean Cement Company Ltd has reduced water withdrawals by 16 per cent, marking a new phase in the manufacturer’s sustainability strategy as it seeks to lower its environmental footprint beyond earlier initiatives, such as using discarded tyres to fuel its cement kiln.

Jorge Martinez, managing director of Carib Cement, said the reduction was particularly significant as Jamaica continues to experience pressure on water resources amid periods of drought and variable rainfall.

“Reducing our water withdrawals demonstrates our commitment to responsible water management and to delivering tangible results through operational efficiency,” Martinez said.

The water level at the Mona Reservoir hovers at one-third of its capacity, while the Hermitage Dam hovers slightly higher at 40 per cent as of October 5, according to reports.

The company said the reduction, recorded during the year-to-date period ending August 2026, was driven by operational efficiencies stemming from its $6.7-billion Debottleneck Project. The project, finished in June 2025, increased the plant’s production capacity by modernising its kiln, an industrial furnace that converts limestone and other raw materials into clinker, the key ingredient in cement production.

The water reduction is equivalent to the annual water needs of more than 1,700 people and moves it closer to its 2030 water-withdrawal target, according to the company.

The achievement highlights an evolution in the environmental agenda of one of Jamaica’s largest industrial manufacturers. In recent years, Carib Cement attracted attention for increasing its use of end-of-life tyres as an alternative fuel source in cement production. While the practice does not eliminate carbon emissions from the manufacturing process, it reduces the volume of tyres entering landfills and open disposal sites, while lowering dependence on traditional fossil fuels.

Now, the company is increasingly focusing on another resource under pressure in Jamaica: water. The company said the improvements are also supporting its broader roadmap towards sustainability and its long-term ambition of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions.

The company expects additional improvements next year as it advances a cooling-tower project intended to increase water recirculation and improve cooling efficiency.

The move comes as water security is becoming a growing concern for businesses and policymakers across Jamaica. Extended dry spells, and shifting rainfall patterns, have heightened concerns about the availability of water for “Jamaica’s households, agriculture, businesses and industries”, the company stated.

For Carib Cement, which operates one of the country’s most energy- and resource-intensive industrial facilities, the “reduction represents a measurable step towards lowering the environmental impact of its operations while maintaining production”.

The gains also suggest that sustainability investments are beginning to yield benefits beyond emissions reductions.

“The company’s continued investments in operational efficiency and water-management technologies are intended to build on these gains and bring it closer to fulfilling its sustainability commitments,” stated the company.

business@gleanerjm.com