The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has announced that the UK cement and lime sectors have achieved their energy-efficiency goals, as detailed in their Climate Change Agreements for the target period 4 (2008).
 
Collectively, the cement manufacturers have exceeded their target of improving specific energy consumption by 26.6% over 1990 levels ahead of schedule, recording an actual reduction level of 33.7%.
 
Within the lime sector, the manufacturers have achieved a specific energy consumption of 940kWh/tonne against a target of 955kWh/tonne.
 
This will secure retention of the full rebate on the Climate Change Levy applied to its fuels.
 
The five UK participants in the cement sector Climate Change Agreement (Hanson Cement, CEMEX UK Operations, Tarmac Buxton Lime & Cement, Lafarge Cement and Quinn Cement) account for 100% of UK Portland cement production.
 
All the participants have underlying agreements that underpin challenging energy-efficiency targets against a 1990 baseline. Improvements in sector energy efficiency from new and updated plant have been supplemented by further use of waste-derived fuels.
 
‘The UK industry is committed to tackling climate change through reducing emissions and providing energy-saving solutions through its products,’ commented MPA Cement’s executive director Dr Pal Chana.
 
‘This impressive performance was achieved despite the present state of the market, and our members remain committed to further improve performance, working towards the Government’s target of an 80% reduction by 2050.’
 
www.cementindustry.co.uk