AdBri cements green record

Adelaide Brighton has dipped a toe into green energy in a joint venture with Adelaide-based waste recycler Resourceco.  The 50-50 venture, Alternative Fuel Company, will provide AdBri’s Birkenhead cement kiln with wood waste sourced from demolition sites.

AdBri managing director Mark Chellew said the company -- currently the subject of a disputed takeover bid by Boral -- had invested between A$5m and A$6m in the venture, and expected to make substantial savings by reducing the plant’s heavy use of natural gas.

"If it is mildly successful, we’ll save A$2m a year. If it’s very successful, we’ll save A$6m year," he said.

The new venture, which has been trialled extensively during a three-year development process, and approved by South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority, will also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases..