Norm Completes Industrial Trial to Co-Process Drill Cuttings in Cement Production
31 December 2025

Norm has successfully completed an industrial trial to co-process treated drill cuttings from drilling operations in the oil and gas industry, taking another step toward the circular use of industrial waste in Azerbaijan.

Around 1,000 tons of treated drill cuttings, supplied by Azeri M-I, were co-processed at the Norm Cement plant as an alternative raw material in clinker production. Laboratory testing, emissions monitoring, and operational tests confirmed that the material met all required quality, safety, and environmental standards for co-processing.

The trial was conducted in line with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, ensuring full regulatory and environmental control at every stage.

“Projects like this demonstrate how industrial cooperation and innovation can deliver practical solutions for more sustainable production,” said Yusif Jabbarov, the Chairman of NEQSOL Holding, the parent company of Norm. “By supporting circular approaches across our portfolio, we continue to explore opportunities to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high operational standards.”

The project establishes a closed-loop connection between drilling operations and cement production. Norm, a supplier of oil well cement for drilling operations, will use drill cuttings from the same wells in its clinker production process. Utilizing treated industrial waste as alternative raw materials helps reduce environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and advance the circular economy.

The initiative will also strengthen cooperation between Azerbaijan’s oil and gas and cement industries and support progress toward sustainability goals.

By recovering waste into the production cycle, Norm continues to explore new ways of reducing the environmental footprint of cement manufacturing while supporting a more resource-efficient and circular economy.

The Norm cement plant is the largest cement plant in the South Caucasus, with a production capacity of 5,600 tons of clinker per day and 2.1 million tons of cement per year.

NEQSOL Holding is an international group of companies operating across the energy, telecommunications, hi-tech, construction, and mining sectors. The group employs thousands of people and operates in more than 10 countries, with headquarters in the Netherlands.