Displaying items by tag: community

Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas’ (CPV) Alcalá de Guadaíra plant has awarded first place in its children’s painting competition to Eva María Gómez, a student at the nearby CEIP Ángeles Martín Mateo primary school. The student depicted the daily work conducted at the plant in vibrant colours. Second place went to Lucía López from the same school. Special mention was also made to Ainhoa Manzano. The competition was run with the Andalusian Foundation for Cement and Environment (FLACEMA).

US: Illinois Cement is preparing to expand the limestone quarry at its La Salle plant. The company has submitted plans to the local government to build a new quarry to the west and northwest of its existing mine, according to the News tribune newspaper. It also wants to move a road to support the changes. The existing quarry will be closed. The cement producer has held public consultations on the project and the local authorities are considering the plan.

Spain: FYM-HeidelbergCement has launched a sustainability commission to support its Malaga cement plant and the surrounding community. The initiative is part of the company’s 2030 sustainability plan. It includes representatives from local neighbourhood associations, local government and environmental bodies. The commission will meet several times a year to foster an open relationship between the cement producer and its neighbours. It also intends to promote behavior based on the circular economy and the reduction of the unit’s carbon footprint. It will build on the company’s work with the Provincial Forum of Socially Responsible Companies of Malaga since its inception in 2013.

Nigeria: The Federal Government says it is investigating complaints from residents at Akinbo village near to the quarry of Lafarge Africa’s Ewekoro cement plant in Ogun State. Local residents have complained about breeches of local environmental legislation at the site, according to the Vanguard newspaper. Adegboyega Salam, the Director of Mines Environmental Compliance Department from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, said that the issue was related to relocation of the community. He added that he had asked Lafarge Africa for comment. The dispute relates to an agreement between the cement producer and the local community in 2012.

US: LafargeHolcim plans to build three wind turbines at its Paulding cement plant in Ohio to power the unit. Jamie M Gentoo, chief executive officer (CEO) of US cement operations, said that using distributed wind energy at the plant would be a first for the company in North America.

Constructing turbines will begin in December 2018 in partnership with One Energy. The three Paulding turbines are expected to generate more than 12MkWh/yr and should eliminate the equivalent of more than 9000t/yr of CO₂.

As part of a community outreach project in conjunction with the turbine build, LafargeHolcim will create three US$5000 Megawatt Scholarships (one per turbine for a total of US$15,000/yr) to be awarded each year the turbines are in operation. The Megawatt Scholarships will be awarded annually to local high school graduates pursuing a two-year or four- year STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degree. Additionally, One Energy will pay US$27,000/yr annually in local property taxes.