Displaying items by tag: Pollution

India: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has fined ACC subsidiary Madukkarai Cement US$61,000 for fugitive emissions of clinker and cement dust in mid-2020. The Hindu newspaper has reported that inspections found dust in the village Kurumbapalayam, Coimbatore District, located on the eastern side of the cement plant. An ambient air quality survey in September 2020 revealed higher-than-prescribed particulate volumes.

In addition to paying the fine, the producer must comply with 19 instructions of the TNPCB for air pollution control and monitoring by 7 January 2021.

France: LafargeHolcim has said that Lafarge Béton is not responsible for the discharge of ‘particles of cement, treatment liquids and plastic microfibers’ from its Bercy concrete plant in Paris Department. The La Télégramme newspaper has reported that the plant has been under environmental inspection since late August 2020. The company says that the pollution resulted from a single incident ‘caused by malicious parties’ who knew of the on-going investigation.

The mayor of Paris has contacted the public prosecutor to request a criminal action against LafargeHolcim.

India: ACC Limited has announced that it will open a 2.5Mt/yr integrated cement plant with ‘state-of-the-art pollution control technology,’ along with a 25MW coal-fired power plant that will serve the plant in addition to an existing 15MW coal-fired power plant on the site in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The opening in March 2020 will follow the expiry of a period of respite for continued operation of ACC’s 0.9Mt/yr integrated Cement Nagar plant on the same site.

The Times of India has reported that the plant, the company’s oldest, first shut on 30 November 2010 due to repeat violation of pollution standards, and was permitted to reopen in January 2011 up until 28 February 2020, subject to its adherence to strict conditions imposed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (PCB). The company says that it is investigating the use of cladding in the old power plant to bring noise pollution down to 55dB.

Tajikistan: Tajikistan produced 4.20Mt of cement in 2019; up by 11% from 3.80Mt in 2018. Cement exports in the period rose by 11% year-on-year to 1.55Mt from 1.40Mt. 2018’s exports amounted to 0.89Mt (64%) to Uzbekistan, 0.58Mt (41%) to Afghanistan and 0.08Mt (5.8%) to Krygyzstan. Asia-Plus News has reported that tightened pollution legislation in China has driven Chinese-based producers, which accounted for over 90% of Tajik production in 2018, to relocate operations to their country’s western neighbour.

US: Lehigh Cement and Lehigh White Cement have agreed to an investment of US$12m for the installation of pollution control technology across their 11 active cement plants. US Fed News has reported that the upgrades can be expected to reduce net emissions of nitrous oxised (NO_x) by 4550t/yr and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) by 989t/yr. Lehigh Cement will additionally pay a US$1.3m civil penalty for past Clean Air Act violations.

Uzbekistan: The State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection plans to ask cement plants to establish sampling and analysis stations for sources of air pollution by the start of 2022. If they don’t the government will take measures up to and including suspension of production, according to the Trend News Agency. Uzbekistan was ranked in 16th place by AirVisual in a listing of the countries with the most air pollution in 2018.

US: People living near the Cemex Lyons cement plant in Colorado have complained about dust emissions. The Save Our St. Vrain Valley group has filed a report with Boulder County Public Health about dust clouds rising from site, according to the Associated Press. The local authorities say that the clouds don't appear to violate any existing regulations but Cemex officials have promised to look into the issue. The cement producer has also said that it has ways to mitigate dust emissions and it welcomes hearing from people so it can address any concerns.

Spain: The residents’ association of San Diego, Galicia, has filed a complaint to the Port of A Coruña over a discharge of cement dust from Cementos Cosmos’ 0.7Mt/yr Niebla plant. La Voz de Galicia has reported that the emission was the result of a broken pipe. Cementos Cosmos, a subsidiary of Votorantim, says that it detected the malfunction instantly, and resolved it within three minutes.

China: Research conducted by the North-West Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources has ascertained detailed data on carbon dioxide (CO₂) and mercury (Hg) output at a cement plant in Lanzhou using local spruces.

VerticalNews has reported of distance-dependent variations of Hg concentration in needles close to the cement plant, with the highest concentrations observed in needle samples from the site nearest to the plant. Hg in tree rings increased gradually for all sites by year, reaching a concentration of 65.8ng/g in the last growing period at 0m from the plant.

The study fuels hopes of accurate quantification of historical accumulation of air pollutants, including heavy metals, as well as contributing to our understanding of biochemical Hg cycling in forest ecosystems.

India: Zuari Cement’s integrated cement plant at Sitapuram, Telangana has been issued a show cause notice by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for exceeding particulate matter emissions. During an inspection it has found to be emitting 40.6mg/Nm³ from the kiln and 78mg/Nm³ from the cement mill, according to the Times of India newspaper. The limit is 30mg/Nm³. CPCB officials also found other violations including an alleged deliberate attempt show reduced levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The plant has been asked to calibrate its dust monitors properly and submit a compliance report by late July 2019.