Melón, Polpaico clean production agreement, Chile

Chilean cement companies Melón and Polpaico have signed a clean production agreement with the economy ministry’s national clean production council (CNPL) for the cement sector, the ministry announced.

Under the agreement, the companies pledge to minimise emissions and advance the implementation of co-processing technology for the use of alternative fuels in kilns.

To that end, Melón has an alliance with Goodyear to use tyres in its kilns that has allowed the cement maker to replace as much as 50% of the kilns conventional energy supply. For its part, Polpaico will soon open a co-processing platform.

For the first half of 2004, Melón held Chile’s top market share position in regard to shipments with 37.6% (696,423t), followed by Polpaico with 33.5% (620,326t) and Bío Bío with 28.9% (534,268t). Last year Melón held a 38% market share, Polpaico 33% and Bío Bío 30%.