Cement News tagged: Environmental
Holcim Midlothian plant requests modified emission levels
Holcim Inc (LafargeHolcim) has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an air quality permit to modify emissions from the company's Midlothian cement plant, USA. If approved by the TCEQ, the new permit would give Holcim approval to raise its carbon monoxide emissions from approximately 4300tpa to 7100tpa. Holcim Inc also intends to burn increased amounts of petcoke...
Argos' Roberta and Harleyville plants recognised by Energy Star® certificates
The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) has recognised Argos' Roberta cement plant, located in Alabama, USA, and Harleyville, South Carolina, USA, with the ENERGY STAR ® certification for the fifth and third consecutive year, respectively. This recognition signifies that these plants perform in the top 25 per cent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets stric...
UltraTech secures bauxite raw material supplies from Hindalco
Hindalco Industries Ltd, India's premier aluminium and copper producer, has won an order to supply 1.2Mta of bauxite residue to UltraTech Cement as a raw material for cement production. The order is part of UltraTech's drive to use industrial by-products, which can contribute to toxic waste if not disposed of properly. Hindalco has supplied 2.5Mt of bauxite residue to 40 cement companies in...
Waste Knot Energy to operate new alternative fuel pellet plant in the UK
Waste Knot Energy (Waste Knot) has secured funding from Gresham House's British Strategic Investment Fund (BSIF) to build its first fuel pelleting plant in Middlesbrough, UK. The site of the new plant will be at AV Dawson's port facility on Teeside. The plant will produce Waste Knot's Green Knot branded pellets using non-recyclable waste - otherwise destined for landfill or for another countr...
Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe ordered to shut plant by EMA
The Environmental Management Agency ordered Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe (LafargeHolcim group) to close its 0.45Mta Manresa plant last week, because of abnormal dust discharges. Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe said it experienced an unexpected surge in dust emissions during a trial of alternative fuel in the plant between July 30 and 1 August, adding that immediate action was taken to control and contain ...
NTPC begins the bulk supply of fly ash from new unit
NTPC, India’s largest energy conglomerate, has begun the bulk supply of fly ash to cement plants from its new Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh. "NTPC Ltd has developed an infrastructure at Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh to transport fly ash in bulk to cement plants, located at distance, at a cheaper cost," said a company statement. The development is in line with the company’s commitment...
Two Fijian cement companies issued stop order
Two cement factories were closed in Fiji last week after being issued a stop order by the Department of Environment, according to the Fiji Sun. The stop order was reportedly the result of public pressure from residents and businesses of Lami over poor clinker containment measures. Pacific Cement and Tengy Cement, both based in Lami, must therefore rectify these containment measures as part ...
Argos launches ECO Multiproposito in Honduras
Colombian cement producer Argos has launched its ECO Multiproposito cement in Honduras. The product is a general-purpose cement that thanks to sustainable production processes lowers CO 2 emissions by 40 per cent. Energy for the production process at the company’s Comayagua plant is sourced from a solar power array that it inaugurated at the start of 2020. The new product is said to be th...
South Africa needs to overcome alternative fuel challenges
South Africa still has barriers it needs to overcome to make alternative fuels more accessible for cement producers. While Natal Portland Cement (InterCement group) has redesigned parts of its production process to accept several waste types, in other countries the group has a much higher alternative fuel usage. InterCement has achieved 50-70 per cent AF usage in some of its facilities, but i...
Dragon Cement pays US$67,000 for air emission violations
Dragon Products Co LLC (Giant Cement Holding Inc) has agreed to pay US$67,000 for air pollution the violations dating back to 2016, according to a monthly enforcement report from Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The violations were discovered through reports filed by Dragon and a subsequent investigation the DEP conducted on the 0.68Mta Thomaston cement plant in Maine, USA....
LafargeHolcim and IBM join forces to develop ORIS
LafargeHolcim is exploring varied ways of expanding its digital portfolio, not just in cement and its 'Plants of Tomorrow' initiative, but also through its portfolio of building materials. LafargeHolcim will work with IBM Services to further develop the first digital platform for road design optimisation called ORIS. ORIS can reduce road project costs by up to one-third and carbon emission...
Japanese cement producers help reduce plastic waste
Japan's cement companies are investing to use more plastic waste as fuel to produce cement. Taiheiyo Cement plans to employ new technology for efficiently making coal from plastic and deploy dedicated equipment at nine works in Japan. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Osaka Cement is pouring CNY10bn (US$93.6m) into environmental efforts, including handling plastic waste, by FY22. Japan shipped 1.5M...
Cemex launches Vertua® low-carbon concrete
Cemex has launched Vertua® a low-carbon concrete range of products designed to offset residual CO 2 and provide a CarbonNeutral® concrete product. Vertuar achieves a 70 per cent reduction in embodied carbon emissions, claims Cemex. The range offers concrete solutions for foundations, floors and walls of buildings. "Vertua® is part of our ambition to deliver net-zero CO 2 concrete globally ...
LafargeHolcim launch ECOPact concrete to more territories
LafargeHolcim has launched ECOPact, the industry's broadest range of green concrete, delivering high-performing, sustainable and circular benefits, the company claims. After a successful market adoption in Europe, ECOPact is now available in the US with plans to expand into the UK, Canada, Latin America and other markets worldwide in the coming months. This introduction is an essential comp...
LafargeHolcim Richmond plant secures biosolids fuel supply
LafargeHolcim has signed a long-term contract with CRD to provide a reliable, steady and safe supply of biosolids to use as fuel in the company's cement manufacturing at the Richmond plant, Canada. Supported by the Government of BC's CleanBC Industry Fund, LafargeHolcim's Western Canadian Geocycle team received CAD753,000 (US$562.7) in funding for the capital investment in a silo designed to ...
Norwegian CCS project is awarded EUR2.1bn
The full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Norway has been awarded EUR2.1bn from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA). By supporting the project, the Norwegian government aims to scale up CCS and share its knowledge and experience. The approved project will allow for the establishment of carbon capture facilities at Norcem's (HeidelbergCement...