Cementos Molins applies to raise tyre use

Recognising the need to increase its use of tyres as fuel to fire its kiln, Cementos Molins is applying to extend its licence. Initially, Catalonia’s provincial government authorised Cementos Molins to burn 5000t of tyres as fuel for its kiln in its Sant Vicenç dels Horts plant, but following the success of the operation, the cement producer has now applied to raise this figure to 20,000t.

The cement company has said that as it does not use whole or cut tyres, but tyre chips, which requires preprocessing, it is not using the entire quota allowed. To increase its tyre use in a technically- and economically-viable manner, it requires an authorisation to increase the quantity of tyres used for co-processing.

Spanish cement producers use alternative fuels for around 30 per cent of the fuel to fire their kilns. Key wastes employed include sewage sludge, woods, plant waste, paper, plastics and oil.