Irish Cement defends waste fuel plan

Irish Cement has defended its plans to burn up to 90,000tpa of waste materials following concerns by local residents over the health and safety impact of the development.

Brian Gilmore, head of communications with Irish Cement, said that the company’s EUR10m plant to burn waste at its Limerick plant will be “no health and safety risks, or concerns."The environmental regulations that are there are there to protect the communities," Mr Gilmore told local press.

Irish Cement, part of the CRH Group, has stated that this investment will reduce carbon emissions by up to 40,000tpa. “Limerick is the only factory in Ireland that is fully dependent on imported fossil fuels and we import around 100,000t of fossil fuels into the country every year. Limerick is one of the last plants in Europe to actually replace fossil fuels and what we are doing is very common, and best practice,” Mr Gilmore underlined.

The plans had led to protests earlier in the year by residents from the surrounding areas opposed to the move. Close to 1000 people joined the demonstration organised by Limerick Against Pollution.

Last month Limerick City and County Council confirmed it has granted Irish Cement planning permission for the development. (Source: Limerick Leader, Ireland).