FGR Signs Sixth Element MOU for Graphene Cement in China

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell said the deal represents the largest commercial growth opportunity in the company's global strategy. "The scale of China's cement industry represents a valuable opportunity," Bell said in a statement. "For our company, the potential to establish a localised manufacturing facility in China also provides a significant stepping stone towards further strengthening our presence in this market."

The agreement builds on earlier work demonstrating graphene's ability to cut CO2 emissions in cement. A separate trial showed that adding graphene to concrete reduced embodied carbon by 14%, a finding First Graphene has used to pitch the product to industrial users. That same mechanism is now being targeted at the Chinese market, where even a small displacement of conventional cement could have large absolute emissions savings.

For other companies exploring graphene-enhanced construction materials, the FGR deal signals that China's cement sector is open to additive-based emission reductions. The milestones in the MOU – 200 tonnes and 500 tonnes – will serve as real-world tests of whether the product can scale from pilot to industrial volumes. First Graphene said it plans to begin marketing PureGRAPH CEM through Sixth Element immediately.