Egypt: Suez Cement inaugurates Helwan bag filter

Suez Cement's latest investment in a state-of-the-art bathhouse for its Helwan Cement plant underlies the company's continued commitment to sustainable cement production. The opening of the baghouse was greeted by HE Mounir Fakry AbdelNour, Minister of Trade and Industry, Eng Mohamed El Sewedy, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), Eng Tarek Tawfik and Eng Zaki Abdou Bassiouny, the two Deputy Chairmen of FEI, a number of board members of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, representatives from Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations and Civil Society to the Helwan cement plant.

Since 2005, Suez Cement Group of Companies (SCGC), has invested a significant percentage of its industrial investments – more than EGP500m (US$73m) – in the implementation of comprehensive environmental and safety policies.

Mr Bruno Carré, SCGC's CEO, said: "Our unquestionable commitment to the environment strives to go beyond what is required. This project is part of the company's ongoing efforts to continue reducing our environmental impact and implement best-in-class technologies across our five cement plants through an ambitious program, which will cost more than EGP500m when completed," he said.

"The new bag filter system is equipped with the latest available technology so plants produce the lowest possible dust emission levels in the industry. The filter will reduce Helwan Cement Company's dust emission rates to a maximum of 10mg/m3, which is lower than current Egyptian and European legal standards."

Mr Omar Mohanna, SCGC's chairman added: "Suez Cement Group of Companies chose a long time ago to be committed to sustainability. Economic development, environmental protection and social development are the three pillars of sustainability, which comprise the foundation of our performance parameters as well as the challenges faced by the company," stated Mr Mohanna. "Our commitment to these three pillars is growing because they enhance our competitiveness in the Egyptian market. We also believe our efforts in this area play a key role in the development of Egyptian society."

Thanks to this modernisation programme, all SCGC plants have considerably lowered their dust emission rates to below industry and governmental limits. The programme encompasses several major pollution abatement and emissions control projects lauched in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the World Bank.

All SCGC plants are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. They are also subject to comprehensive audits by the EEAA to ensure full compliance with local standards.

Futhermore, SCGC is working to replace traditional fossil fuels used to produce energy with alternative fuels that will reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions. The emissions produced by alternative fuels, including biomass fuels, are considered 'carbon neutral'. Some of the byproducts of these processes can even be used to create other products.