Irish Cement: Limerick plant to cut alternative fuel usage

Irish Cement is putting forward new proposals to reduce the amount of alternative fuels by half to 90,000t, at its facility in Mungret, Ireland.

It comes after a public outcry against the original proposals to burn tyres and other materials at the Limerick plant.

Irish Cement had announced it is to invest EUR10m at the plant to replace the use of fossil fuels at its plant, in a move which will create 40 construction jobs and secure the future of the 80 staff working on site.

But these proved controversial, with more than 450 people signing a petition in opposition, citing fears over the impact on the environment of burning tyres at such high temperatures.

James Gaffney, Green Party, said although he welcomes the reduction, he warned that using alternative fuels, such as tyres remains “inherently risky”.

But Irish Cement says due to the “extreme temperatures” required for cement production, burning tyres will not lead to any increase in emissions.

”There is close to 40 years’ experience in the European cement industry with a wide range of alternative fuels including tyres, which demonstrates the safety of using these fuels in the cement kilns,” a spokesperson said.

Irish Cement is now seeking permission to use a lower amount – 90,000t of alternative fuels – just under half of the amount previously sought, a spokesperson for Irish Cement said.