Displaying items by tag: UK
The Mineral Products Association (MPA), which looks after the interests of the cement industry (and other allied industries) in the UK, has said that it welcomes a temporary tax-freeze relating to climate change announced in the UK Budget of 20 March 2013. The MPA singled out the decision to freeze the indexation of the Aggregates Levy until April 2014 and the decision to introduce the Climate Change Levy mineralogical and metallurgical exemption for energy-intensive industries such as cement and lime. Both of these moves by UK Chancellor George Osborne have been welcomed because they bring some relief to the UK cement industry and wider construction activities. MPA members make money from such activites and any potential cost that can be eliminated or delayed, even for a short time, is welcome amid the current slump that is the UK economy. This is especially true as the UK weathers the one of the longest and most severe winters for 50 years. So far, so much sense.
However, how does this reaction to the Climate Change Levy exemption tie in with the MPA's February 2013 announcement that it thinks that the UK cement industry's total CO2 emissions should be reduced by 81% by 2050? What should UK cement producers make of this? The MPA's cement industry CO2 reduction targets are certainly bold. On the face of it, they look achievable given the progress that has been made to date by the UK cement industry, although much is left to the imagination as to which areas could and should contribute most to the reduction target. The 81% reduction target includes the successful future commercial development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. It also relies on an increased proportion of renewable sources for the electricity that the cement industry will receive in 2050, something else that is totally out of the industry's control.
However, much hard work has already been done by cement companies in the UK. As in other EU countries and developed nations, total dust and toxic emissions have fallen dramatically in the UK cement industry since 1990. The country's alternative fuel substitution rate has now hit ~40%. Yet, as the MPA highlights in its document detailing the targets for 2050, much of the low-hanging fruit has already been taken. Further reduction in overall CO2 emissions will be significantly affected by both regulations and cement company progress. Cement companies can increase their consumption of 'wastes' and fit waste-heat recovery systems. Through such measures they can achieve further reductions in emissions. Some kilns have hit alternative fuel substitution rates of 100% for limited periods and examples from the near continent show that 80% alternative fuels can be the norm. However, unlike these 'bottom-up' approaches, which can be introduced at a plant in a period of months, regulations take years to evolve and come into force, often involving slow and lengthly debate by politicians, associations and consumers.
To discourage the government from seeking to impose stricter environmental regulations for the cement industry by welcoming the exemption, is the MPA undercutting its own calls to reduce CO2 emissions in the UK cement industry? From a cement producer's perspective, it looks like the MPA could hold two contradictory opinions on the same subject: that you can welcome reductions in climate regulation while also calling for stricter emissions regulations. This phenomenon was famously termed 'double think' by George Orwell in his classic novel '1984,' but the MPA's situation is far more subtle. Often the regulators and those being regulated can agree on the same target but not on how that target should be reached. The next 37 years will show whether or not this target is even possible.
UK: The Minerals Products Association (MPA) has welcomed measures in the UK government's 2013 budget that will help boost the outlook for the cement industry and the wider mineral products and construction sectors. The MPA singled out the decision to freeze the indexation of the Aggregates Levy until April 2014 and the decision to introduce the Climate Change Levy mineralogical and metallurgical exemption for energy intensive industries such as cement and lime.
"The government is clearly listening and understands that investing in infrastructure and construction is key to securing growth. The issue remains of ensuring that cash flows into action on the ground to help improve confidence and induce private sector investment, which is needed to accelerate growth in demand," said Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA.
Hanson’s EcoPlus reduces use of Ordinary Portland Cement
20 March 2013UK: Building materials producer Hanson, a UK-based part of Germany's HeidelbergCement, has launched a new range of quality concretes designed to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with construction projects. The EcoPlus range contains Hanson Regen, a sustainable substitute for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete. Hanson Regen is a ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) and can replace up to 70% of the OPC content. Replacing 1t of OPC with 1t of Regen in EcoPlus concrete reduces the embodied CO2 by around 850kg.
Paul Lacey, Hanson's head of sustainability and marketing, said, "EcoPlus is designed to help engineers, specifiers and contractors meet current and future environmental legislation. Our online carbon calculator shows the CO2 savings that can be made by specifying one of our eight standard EcoPlus mixes, which are suitable for foundations, pavements and structural projects. We can also design and supply bespoke mixes."
Using Regen in EcoPlus also improves the durability of structures, particularly where sulphates and chlorides are an issue, and gives a lighter, more aesthetically pleasing colour to the concrete.
CPV and CRH swap assets
26 February 2013Spain/Ireland/UK: On 26 February 2013 Irish buildings materials supplier CRH plc announced that it and Spanish cement business Cementos Portland Valderrivas SA (CVP) had reached an agreement, effective immediately, regarding an asset swap in relation to certain Spanish assets.
CRH will transfer its 26% stake in Corporacion Uniland SA to CPV. In return, CPV will transfer its 99% stake in Cementos Lemona SA to CRH. CRH will also acquire Southern Cement Ltd, a cement importation business, based in Ipswich, UK as part of the transaction. As part of the transaction CRH and CPV will terminate all legal disputes with each other.
Lagan and Quinn drop joint venture plans
15 February 2013Ireland/UK: Lagan Cement and Quinn Building Products have dropped plans to form a joint venture (JV).
"Discussions have now concluded and both companies have decided not to progress further with the proposed joint venture," the companies said in a statement.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding December 2012 to explore the possibility of a JV between their cement and building products businesses based in Ballyconnell, Derrylin, Kinnegad, Belfast, Cork and Benelux. At the time, Quinn Manufacturing Group chief executive Paul O'Brien and his opposite number, Jude Lagan, said that the idea was to create a 'sustainable' independent Irish cement producer.
The decision follows the receipt of a package containing a bullet which was sent in the post to the Lagan's chief executive, Kevin Lagan. The bullet, which was sent to Lagan at his Belfast office, was accompanied by a message stating, "Quinn ... is this what you want".
"This is clearly an attempt to intimidate myself and the Lagan Group at a time when we are engaged in discussions with Quinn on combining our cement and building products businesses," said Lagan in a statement released on 14 February 2013.
MPA announces GHG reduction plans to 2050
13 February 2013UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA), which represents UK cement producers, has became the first national cement industry body to publish its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plans to 2050.
Outlining an ambitious target of reducing GHG emissions by 81% by 2050 relative to1990, the Kyoto Protocol baseline year, the UK cement industry has set out for the first time the actions that it, and others, need to take to exceed the UK Government's own aim of 80% GHG reduction. Some of these carbon-reducing measures are already within the capability of the UK cement companies, but others like the decarbonisation of the electricity sector and carbon capture and storage are not in the industry's control and others, including the government, will have to be relied upon to play their roles.
The MPA said that the targets were 'ambitious but achievable' and that the industry would look to use every means possible, within strict environmental controls and technical standards requirements, to meet its goals.
Merger threat to Lagan boss
31 January 2013Ireland/UK: The Irish Times has reported that a rifle bullet was sent to the chief executive of the Ireland-based Lagan Group, Kevin Lagan, during the third week of January 2013 in what is thought to be a direct threat linked to Lagan's proposed merger with part of the Quinn Group, which is based in Northern Ireland in the UK.
The rifle bullet was contained within a cigar box, which had, 'Quinn...is this what you want?' written on it. It had apparently been sent from Northern Ireland.
Lagan said he was 'totally amazed' by the package. He said the group's proposed merger with Quinn Building Products posed no threat to jobs. "In fact it secures the future of both Quinn and ourselves going forward," he said. "This is clearly an attempt to intimidate myself and the Lagan Group at a time when we are engaged in discussions with Quinn on combining our cement and building products businesses."
Lagan said that the person or persons behind the 'crude intimidatory tactic' were obviously not interested in protecting jobs. "We will not be swayed from our determination to complete our discussions successfully," he added.
Seán Quinn lost control of the Quinn Group in April 2011 when a receiver was appointed by the former Anglo Irish Bank. There have since been a number of incidents believed to have been carried out by people angry about what has happened.
B&W Mechanical Handling to become SAMSON
20 December 2012UK: B&W Mechanical Handling Ltd, a UK company and part of the German Aumund Group, will become SAMSON Materials Handling Ltd on 1 January 2013.
The company said that the progression is a reflection of the success that its SAMSON equipment has enjoyed worldwide. The SAMSON range has played an important role in the its bulk materials handling projects in industries such as mining and minerals, cement, environmental, ports and terminals, biomass, steel, power and agriculture.
Along with the new SAMSON name, the company said that it will also launch a range of engineered products during 2013.
Minister visits Lafarge Cookstown following re-fit
12 December 2012UK: A Lafarge cement plant in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland has invested Euro6m in new equipment and an apprenticeship scheme.
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster visited the plant, where she met employees and saw a refurbished electrostatic precipitator that will reduce overall dust emissions. She was also told about the Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) project, which has reduced some 8000t/yr of landfilled waste to almost zero.
Further plans for the Cookstown Works were also showcased, including a future upgrade of a central control room and the apprenticeship scheme, which saw two new apprentices join the works team in 2012. A further two apprentices will join the team in 2013.
The minister said that Lafarge's investment demonstrates its confidence in its workforce. "This is a difficult time for the construction industry and it is therefore particularly pleasing to see that the company is investing in its future by upgrading its current facilities and creating opportunities for apprenticeships," said Foster.
The investment in the Cookstown Works comes at a time when Lafarge is merging its UK building materials business interests with those of Tarmac Buxton. This has necessitated the sale of the French giant's Hope Works in Derbyshire, England.
New continuous mercury gas emissions analyser from SICK
06 December 2012UK/US: In anticipation of tighter regulations for mercury emissions, SICK has developed the new MERCEM300Z mercury measuring system, a high-accuracy continuous-flow gas analyser for emissions down to the 0–45µg/m3 range from a wide range of combustion sources.
According to SICK, the patented gas spectrum of the MERCEM300Z rapid monitoring system offers superior performance with better long term, drift-free accuracy and lower running costs. The system requires minimal maintenance, is self adjusting and uses no chemical consumables.
"Awareness of the pollution caused by mercury and its compounds in combustion emissions is increasing in the UK and Europe," explained John Exford, Process Automation Division Manager, SICK (UK). "From power generation, cement kilns and hospital waste to crematoriums, the need to tighten up on mercury will be very important in 2013, when the EU will be following the United Nations lead in a world-wide treaty."
Mercury emissions are a particularly pertinent issue in the US cement industry, which will experience tighter mercury level controls in 2013.