Thailand: General Environmental Conservation (GENCO) plans to build a 100,000t/yr refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong province. The project will have an investment of US$5.6m and will start production in the first quarter of 2017. RDF from the plant will be sold to cement plants, according to the Bangkok Post.

"GENCO will be the first company in Thailand to produce RDF to be sold to factories. The company will eventually increase its capacity to more than 100,000 tonnes to meet rising demand," said GENCO managing director Ronnachai Tantragoon.

Germany: Doppstadt has patented a new method to clean star screen machines during operation. The new method helps the screening stars clean themselves by introducing finger gears into the space of neighbouring star screen shafts. This strikes the neighbouring star screen shaft and shakes off adherent materials. The new system will be used with Doppstadt screens SM 518 and SM 620 in both mobile and stationary applications. It can be operated either with a trommel or with a screening deck.

Portugal: Cimpor has appealed a judgement by the Supreme Administrative Court cancelling permits to burn alternative fuels at its Souselas cement plant. The North Central Administrative Court cancelled the environmental licences, originally granted by the former Environment Minister Nunes Correia, in March 2016.

Ireland: Irish Cement is planning to cut the amount alternative fuels it intends to co-process at its Limerick cement plant to 90,000t/yr. The cement producer withdrew its initial planning application in March 2016 but has resubmitted a new application with a lower amount of alternative fuels, according to the Limerick Leader newspaper. It now aims to burn half of the original amount that was originally requested.

It originally announced its Euro10m plan to co-process alternative fuels including tyres at the plant in December 2015. The investment is intended to create 40 jobs. However, local citizens have opposed the plans with over 450 people signing a petition against the development.