Cyprus: Vassiliko Cement has been awarded an honorary distinction by the Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development for its use of alternative fuels. Its cement plant has a substitution rate of over 40%. The cement producer was also praised for other environmental improvements to its production line including the use of fabric filters for dust removal, the equipment and mode of operation for reduced emissions of air pollutants, the equipment for reduced electricity consumption that includes vertical grinding mills and the equipment for cutting down on thermal energy consumption with the use of waste heat recovery.

Mexico: Holcim Mexico has spent US$5.5m on upgrades to allow co-processing alternative fuels at its Ramos Arizpe plant near Saltillo. The new alterntive fuels line will start operation by May 2018, according to the Vanguard newspaper. Rodolfo Montero Chacón, the general director of the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, said that the 2.2Mt/yr plant has two kilns but it only uses one due to local demand. The plant currently operates a proudction capcity utilistation rate of 55%.

Indonesia: The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is working with four cement producers to dispose of medical waste. Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, the Director General of Waste, Hazardous and Toxic Waste (B3) at the Ministry of Environment, said that the project was a short term one that would last six months, according to Netral News. The government department will work with Indocement’s Citeureup plant, Holcim Indonesia’s Narogong plant, Semen Padang and Cemindo Gemilang’s Bayah plant.

Ireland: Irish Cement has been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala for its plans to burn tyres and tyres and solid recovered waste at its Limerick plant. Local councils originally approved the project in 2017 but this was appealed to the national An Bord Pleanala following local protests. Environmental groups say they will continue to fight the plan.