Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) increased its thermal substitution rate of alternative fuels (AF) to 31% in 2022, compared to 26% in 2021. In 2020 it reported an AF substitution rate of 18%.
National Cement Company of Alabama’s Ragland cement plant upgrade to reduce CO2 emissions by 40%
US: National Cement Company of Alabama has reported that the new kiln line at its Ragland cement plant will reduce the plant’s CO2 emissions by 40%. Its energy consumption will also fall by 30% as a result of the upgrade. The new line includes a 78m-high homogenisation silo, vertical crusher, five-stage preheater and automated clay storage system. AF used in the kiln will include waste tyres, woodchip and sawdust. The new kiln will help in the Ragland cement plant’s transition to 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) production by 2023, further diminishing its carbon footprint.
Vicat CEO Guy Sidos said "Our ambition is to use AF in all our cement plants around the world. In addition to eliminating fossil fuel energy and replacing it with recycled regional waste, our investments contribute directly to local development. We are proud of the modernisation and transformation of our Ragland site, which was our very first acquisition outside France in 1974."
National Cement Company of Alabama inaugurates new line at Ragland cement plant
US: Vicat subsidiary National Cement Company of Alabama inaugurated its new US$300m production line at its Ragland cement plant on 21 July 2022. Local press has reported that the line includes a new rotary kiln, equipped for alternative fuel (AF) use.
President Spencer Weitman said “This puts us into the next 40 or 50 years. And it’s prolonged the life of the plant to move us forward into the next entry hopefully.”
N+P opens office in Italy
Italy: Netherlands-based N+P has officially opened its first office in Milan. It is intended to serve the local waste market with significant growth in trading volumes expected in the future. The company will offer its full range of services locally including transfrontier shipment of waste documentation, logistics (by road, rail and water) and recovery solutions.