Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has reported a record alternative fuels substitution rate of up to 46% at its Ewekoro cement plant. The cement producer reported that its energy optimisation strategy achieved strong performance compensating for gas shortages at a relatively low cost. It added that made progress during the first quarter of 2017 towards initial alternative fuels conversion work at its Mfamosing line II at Ashaka Cement.
Cementos Cosmos stops exports from Niebla plant due to fuel costs
Spain: Cementos Cosmos has stopped exports from its Niebla cement plant due to an increase in the price of petcoke. The subsidiary of Brazil’s Votorantim has also implemented a Temporary Regulation of Employment from June 2017 to May 2018 that will enable it to suspend workers or reduce working hours, according to the Huelva Información newspaper. The cement producer says it is waiting for planning permission to install a dosing system for waste fuels that will cut it fuel bill. However, the local community has opposed attempts to use alternative waste fuels previously.
ALBA Nordbaden opens refuse-derived fuel plant in Karlsruhe
Germany: Thomas Strobl, the Deputy Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, has opened Alba Nordbaden’s refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant in Karlsruhe. The plant has an RDF production capacity of 33,000t/yr for use at power and cement plants. The unit uses a Lindner Polaris 2800 shredder that can shred materials to 80mm or less in a single step, according to Construction Cayola. Alba Nordbaden specified a crusher that could handle an input rate of 20t/hr.
Planning body to decide by August 2017 on future of Irish Cement’s Limerick upgrade
Ireland: An Bord Pleanála (ABP), a government planning body, will decide by 8 August 2017 on a planning appeal by Irish Cements about its proposed upgrade at its Limerick cement plant. The Euro10m upgrade includes the development of land to facilitate on site handling, storage and introduction of alternative fuels with conveyor kiln, storage tanks, uploading station, handling building, cooling tower and associated ancillary work. If the appeal is successful then the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decide if the cement producer can have a licence to burn waste fuels at the site, according to the Limerick Leader newspaper. Irish Cements has faced local opposition against its plans for the site.