An agreement between Oman Cement Co (OCC) and Oman Environmental Services Holding Co Be’ah will see the cement producer include waste tyres in its fuel mix.

The Memorandum of Understand (MoU), signed by Be’Ah CEO, Eng Tariq Ali Am Amri, and OCC CEO, Eng Salim Abdulllah Al Hajri, formalises the scope of cooperation between the two companies. It is estimated that around 45,000tpa of waste tyres are generated in the sultanate. Due to urbanisation and an increasing population, this figure is expected to rise.

Currently OCC mainly uses natural gas to fire its kiln, but is looking to diversity its fuel sources. “The project will meet OCC’s plans for diversification of energy sources by using tyre-derived fuel (TDF) and other waste as a fuel source in cement kilns, leading to several benefits such as protecting the environment, increasing production capacity, and saving energy,” said Mr Al Hajri.