Displaying items by tag: Alternative Fuels
Cementos Argos to expand Piedras Azules cement plant
21 December 2021Honduras: Cementos Argos plans to expand the production capacity of its 1Mt/yr Piedras Azules cement plant by 35%. The plan is part of a group of planned projects, including solar power and alternative fuels, with a total investment value of US$23m. The company expects to complete all of the work before 2024. It says that the expanded operations will generate 500 new direct job opportunities.
The company will increase its energy supply from the Comayagua solar power plant to 25% of the plant’s requirements from 20% at present. It will also establish a new 1.2MW solar power plant at Río Blanquito. The cement producer will also strengthen its industrial waste co-processing operations with the aim of achieving 12% refuse-derived fuel (RDF) substitution rate by 2030, the equivalent of 5500t/yr. If reached, this will reduce the company’s carbon footprint in the country by 14%.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Luis Eduardo Tovar said "This investment is a vote of confidence of Argos in Honduras and represents our commitment to the country's economic reactivation and our firm determination to contribute to the consolidation of prosperous and sustainable communities based on competitive and visionary initiatives.” He continued “We will continue our efforts to promote the development of Honduran families through the creation of social value at a national level."
Siam Cement Group to spend US$2bn on CO2 reduction by 2030
15 December 2021Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) plans to spend US$2bn towards meeting its CO2 reduction target by 2030. The industrial group and cement producer intends to reduce its emissions by 20% by the end of the decade, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. Chief executive officer Roongrote Rangsiyopash, said that the investment will be made from 2022 to 2030 and that it follows the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Thai government's bio, circular and green (BCG) economic model and environmental, social and governance standards (ESG). After 2030 the group has a net zero goal for 2050.
In cement production the SCG wants to increase its rate of alternative fuels such as biomass and refuse-derived fuel. It also wants to invest in carbon capture utilisation and storage, use electric vehicles and use artificial intelligence systems in energy management. The group plans to reduce coal usage at its cement plants in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia by 50% in 2022. It also plans to use more electricity generated by renewable energy for its factories.
PCA announces Energy and Environment Awards 2021 winners
09 December 2021US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has announced the winners of its Energy and Environment Awards 2021. The awards recognise cement plants’ outstanding environmental and social efforts beyond what is required.
CalPortland’s Mojave plant in California won the Energy Efficiency award for an efficiency-increasing upgrade to its vertical roller mill, which included the introduction of a bottom hopper cone on each of its cyclones and a replacement of its mill fan housing. Argos USA’s Calera plant in Alabama won the Land Stewardship award for its conversion an 8.5ha lime kiln dust stockpile into grassland. The area now forms a vibrant ecosystem including wetland habitats. The producer also installed ponds with the additional purpose of stormwater management. Titan America’s Pennsuco plant in Florida won the Overall Environmental Excellence award for its conversion of the plant’s kiln to natural gas from coal use. The upgrade has also enabled the plant to begin to substitute alternative fuel (AF) in the kiln. The Pennsuco plant plans to produce 100% Portland limestone cement (PLC) by ‘as early as 2023.’
Other awards went to Roanoke Cement’s Troutville, Virginia, plant in the Environmental Performance category and to Cemex USA’s Victorville, California, plant in the Outreach category.
PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland said “The US’s cement manufacturers continue to focus on researching and developing new and innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint. These accomplishments and industry commitment to carbon neutrality across the entire value chain demonstrate PCA members’ dedication to energy efficiency and a more sustainable future.”
ThyssenKrupp to upgrade Ciments Calcia’s Airvault cement plant
07 December 2021France: Germany-based ThyssenKrupp has won a contract for the installation of a new 4000t/day clinker line at Ciments Calcia’s Airvault cement plant in Poitou-Charentes. The supplier expects the new line to double the plant’s clinker capacity while also reducing its CO2 emissions. It is intended to replace the two existing lines at the site.
ThyssenKrupp will supply a 1200t/hr double-shaft hammer crusher, a longitudinal blending bed, a 370t/hr Quadropol QMR² 45/23 type vertical roller mill and a 10,000t tangential blending silo to process raw materials for the line. A single-string, five-stage Dopol type cyclone preheater with integral calciner will be supplied that is suitable to use with alternative fuels, with the possibility of conversion to oxyfuel in future. ThyssenKrupp plans to preassemble the preheater, reducing anticipated construction time ‘by several months.’ The plant also includes a Polytrack clinker cooler, a solid recovered fuel (SRF) preparation line and dedusting systems. Commissioning is scheduled for mid-2024.
No value for the project has been disclosed by Ciments Calcia or ThyssenKrupp. However, Ciments Calcia previously announced a proposed investment of Euro300m in January 2021.
UltraTech Cement announces planned Maihar cement plant expansion
03 December 2021India: UltraTech Cement plans to increase the production capacity at its Maihar cement plant by 50%. Denmark-based FLSmidth will carry out the expansion project, which also involves the installation of a new calciner and JetFlex burner, along with other pyroprocessing equipment. The supplier says that the upgrade will facilitate greater alternative fuel substitution at the plant in Madhya Pradesh.
FLSmidth’s cement president Carsten Riisberg Lund said “We are pleased to continue our long-lasting collaboration with UltraTech Cement. With the new upgrades to the pyro sections, installing MissionZero flagship offerings, such as the low-NOx calciner and JetFlex burner, UltraTech makes a significant investment in future-proofing its sustainable production.”
Jukka Pennanen appointed as head of Cross Wrap
01 December 2021Finland: Cross Wrap has appointed Jukka Pennanen as its chief executive officer from the start of 2022. He succeeds Satu Kivelä in the post. She has held the position since 1994. Saalasti Group purchased 100% of Cross Wrap’s shares in February 2021.
Pennanen joined the baling and wrapping engineering company in October 2021 as a chief operating officer. Prior to this he has held a number of positions including running managing consultancy Luotsaaja for a decade. Earlier in his career he worked for Nokia for over 10 years in marketing and sales positions.
Philippines: Singapore-based Blueleaf Energy says that it has secured a 20-year solar power supply with Holcim Philippines. The companies have signed a power purchase agreement whereby Blueleaf Energy will finance, build and operate a total of 29MW of solar power infrastructure in Norzagaray, Bulacan, and Bacnotan, La Union. These will supply 15% of the energy requirements of Holcim Philippines’ Bulacan and La Union cement plants respectively. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2024.
Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian said “Reducing the carbon footprint of our operations is one of our key sustainability commitments. This year, we have made great progress in this area by stepping up production of blended cements and replacing coal with alternative fuels. Shifting to renewable solar energy will help us further improve as an environment steward and a partner in building progress in the country sustainably.”
Canada: St Mary’s Cement plans to apply for a licence to substitute alternative fuel (AF) for a part of its coal, gas and petcoke fuel mix. The plant previously held a two-week AF substitution trial in May 2011. CBC News has reported that the subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos will present its plan at an evening meeting for the general public on 18 November 2021. The company says that it plans to implement similar AF arrangements to those at its Bowmanville plant, where it uses 90,000t/yr of biomass, wood from construction and demolition and non-recyclable paper and plastics.
Environmental manager Ruben Plaza said "Lower CO2 emissions is the first consideration and, equally as important, the material has to be approved and available in sufficient quantities with a reliable and sustainable long-term supply."
Sumitomo Osaka Cement’s Ako cement plant to receive future disaster waste from Hyogo Prefecture
18 November 2021Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement has secured an agreement with Hyogo Prefecture for the future reception and processing of the prefecture’s waste from disasters such as earthquakes. The company says that the agreement will facilitate the rapid reception of such materials and to best support clean-up efforts.
President Hironori Morohashi said “We will continue to strengthen our cooperative relationship with Hyogo Prefecture and work to form a sustainable society and develop and improve the region.”
Titan Cement increases sales and profit as earnings drop in first nine months of 2021
11 November 2021Greece: Titan Cement has recorded sales of Euro1.26bn in the first nine months of 2021, up by 5% year-on-year from Euro1.2bn in the first nine months of 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 4.3% to Euro220m from Euro229m, while its net profit rose by 41% to Euro81.9m from Euro58m.
During the third quarter of 2021, Titan Cement’s US low-carbon cement sales reached 50% of its total US cement sales. It also continued with hydrogen enrichment pilot studies in its cement kilns in Bulgaria and Greece.