The UK cement industry has criticised the government’s draft National Allocation Plan that identifies "ceilings" on CO2 emissions from cement as part of an emissions trading scheme. British Cement Association (BCA) chief executive Mike Gilbert warned: "The government is attempting to impose an allocation more restrictive than the UK commitments to the Kyoto protocol." The draft plan would damage the industry’s competitiveness within Europe and handicap the UK economy, he added. BCA members produce more than 90% of the cement sold in the UK and include the big three - Blue Circle (owned by Lafarge), Rugby Cement (owned by RMC) and Castle Cement (owned by Heidelberg) - together with Buxton Lime, part of Tarmac/Anglo American. "We are already working to meet the most exacting emission reduction targets for any major industry," said Gilbert.