Cement News tagged under: Environmental

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EU adopts stricter rules on industrial pollution

09 November 2010, Published under Cement News

New European Union legislation adopted on November 8 2010 will bring down industrial emissions from large combustion plants across the EU, bringing several environmental and health benefits to Europe’s citizens, the European Commission (EC) said.

 The stricter legislation on industrial emissions was proposed by the EC in December 2007.

 The new rules will also lead to significant savings through the reduction of administrative burden and provide a more level playing field for industry, a...

Cemex Spain increases biomass usage

08 November 2010, Published under Cement News


Cemex Spain has launched a biomass shredder at its Lloseta (Mallorca) plant. This new equipment, in which Cemex has invested €1.2m, allows its kilns to be supplied with biofuel from wood waste and agricultural waste near the plant. At first, the use of biofuel is expected to account for 30% of  fuel used at the plant, and up to 50% over the medium-term. This will avoid around 33,000t of CO2 emissions to be released into the atmosphere.

PCA files petitions for reconsideration and review of industry air standard

07 November 2010, Published under Cement News

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) today filed a Petition for Reconsideration and Administrative Stay with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a number of issues in the final portland cement national emission standard for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). The NESHAP rule, signed by the EPA Administrator in August, was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on September 9, 2010 (75 Fed. Reg. 54970). The rule will require portland cement facilities to limit emissi...

GEA Process Engineering acquires ACC unit, India??

03 November 2010, Published under Cement News

GEA Process Engineering has acquired the emission controls engineering unit of ACC, the largest cement producer in India. The acquisition is poised to give GEA Process Engineering a secure footing in the emissions controls market. GEA Process Engineering already delivers process technology for India’s pharmaceutical, chemical, food and dairy market segments. 

The former ACC business unit has supplied air pollution control solutions for industries and power plants to the Indian and Asian ma...

Final local views on Hanson plant to be submitted, UK

02 November 2010, Published under Cement News

A team investigating public health concerns over the Hanson’s Padeswood cement plant in is inviting the final views of local residents. Public Health Wales is investigating after the communities around the Hanson Cement works in Padeswood raised fears the site might be linked to cancer. Sessions will be held at Buckley Library on Monday and at Pen-y-Ffordd War Memorial Institute on Tuesday. Hanson has always said there are no health risks, but welcomed the study

Ash Grove sues EPA over mercury levels, USA

01 November 2010, Published under Cement News

Ash Grove Cement Co is suing the US Environmental Protection Agency after the agency declined to create a special category of mercury emission rules that could keep the facility operational. The Baker City Herald reports that the Ash Grove Cement Co. has asked county officials and Baker City to support its suit. The limestone quarries that Ash Grove uses contain more mercury than is typical of that type of rock. That means the plant, in Durkee, releases more mercury than most other cement p...

No solution in sight for Apaxco pollution conflict, Mexico

30 October 2010, Published under Cement News

A waste processing company and the surrounding community are at odds over the operation of a Holcim Mexico plant. Although the National Water Commission (Conagua) exonerated the Ecoltec company, a subsidiary of Holcim, of polluting nearby water sources, a group of residents has maintained a blockade of the plant since May 2009 in Apaxco, some 85km northeast of Mexico City. 

 In a September 27 resolution, Conagua stated that the Macuspana plant, in operation since 2003, does not discharge ...

Cemex to increase use of alternative fuels

29 October 2010, Published under Cement News

Cemex aims to increase the use of alternative fuels and clean development mechanisms (CDMs) at its cement plants, according to CFO Rodrigo Treviño. "We will continue to develop projects that look to reduce our energy use," Treviño said in a conference call with analysts. In Q3, Cemex achieved an alternative fuel utilisation rate of close to 22%, an improvement on 17% during 3Q09, the executive added. Cemex currently has three CDMs: the 250MW Eurus wind project in Oaxaca state and biomass ...

China says energy-saving campaign back on track

29 October 2010, Published under Cement News

China’s campaign to make its industrial industries cleaner and more efficient is making progress again after its huge economic stimulus caused a setback by triggering a boom in energy-intensive industries, the government said Thursday. China is nearing the end of a five-year effort to cut power consumed per unit of economic output by 20 percent from 2006 levels. Stimulus spending on construction drove a boom in steel and cement production, boosting demand and prompting authorities to try to...

CalPortland fined for violating air-quality regulation, USA

28 October 2010, Published under Cement News

CalPortland Co will pay a US$350,000 fine for reportedly violating federal air-quality regulations. The deal between CalPortland Co. and the US Environmental Protection Agency claims that the company did not obtain the proper permits for major modifications it made last year in its operations at its plant near Marana. According to the EPA, the changes resulted in a significant net increase in coarse particulates. But the fine, which EPA air-enforcement officer Doug McDaniel said is on the ...