Suez Cement opens new waste processing plant

Suez Cement Group of Companies (SCGC) has opened Egypt’s first waste processing plant. Bruno Carre, Suez Cement’s Chief Executive Officer, and Laila Iskandar, the Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, cut the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony for the state-of-the-art facility, which is located at the company’s Kattameya plant.

The €5 million project, which took almost a year to complete, is part of Suez Cement’s strategy to boost the amount of energy it acquires via refuse-derived fuels (RDFs). The plant is being built in compliance with Egyptian environmental law and is expected to process 35 Kt of waste and provide up to 20% of the fuels required by the plant.

“We are proud about this new milestone and thanks to the new facility we are on track to reach our goal of producing 20% of our energy fuel needs using alternative fuels by 2017,” said Bruno Carre. “Suez Cement is determined to continue making meaningful and valuable contributions to the socio-economic development of Egypt.”

The new facility will allow the company to diversify its energy mix, lower its dependence on fossil fuels and put Egyptian waste to good use. It is part of a comprehensive strategy to replace traditional fuels such as gas and mazot, which have become scarce in Egypt, with coal and petroleum coke and to develop renewable energies such as waste fuels and sustainable power. The plant is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 39 600 tpa, thereby mitigating the possible future negative impacts of coal compared to mazot.

Other benefits for Suez Cement, its employees and the Egyptian market, include ensuring local production of high quality and competitive cement for the construction industry, which is one the main drivers of the economy. The project will also provide new training opportunities for staff in an innovative field, contributing in the development of the solid waste valorisation industry.

Since its acquisition by Italcementi Group, Suez Cement has invested a significant percentage of its industrial investments (more than LE 500 million) in the implementation of a comprehensive environmental and safety policy. As a result of this modernisation programme, all the company’s plants have significantly lowered their dust emission rates to well below industry and governmental limits. The programme encompasses several major pollution abatement and emissions control projects launched in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and the World Bank.

In terms of renewable power, Suez Cement’s parent company, alongside other contributors, is set to invest €130 million in the first phase of constructing a privately-owned wind farm in Gabal El Zeit. When completed, the farm will produce enough energy to cover 40% of Suez Cement’s power needs.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/17022014/suez_cement_opens_new_waste_processing_plant_757/