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OPTERRA invests in new filter system

Published by , Editorial Assistant
World Cement,


A new filter system will reduce NOX at the OPTERRA Karsdorf plant. The traditional plant will remain one of the most important producers of cement for Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, and neighbouring federal states in the future, while also being one of the most environmentally friendly. With the commissioning of the new emission control system at the beginning of 2019, the significantly higher emission limits required by law will all be met. In total, OPTERRA invested €23 million in modern catalytic converter technology in the eastern German location.

The new emission control system was officially inaugurated on 26 July 2019. The ceremony was attended by Reiner Haseloff, Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Götz Ulrich, District Administrator of the Burgenlandkreis, and the mayors of the surrounding communities, as well as the district chairman and CDU member of parliament Dieter Stier, the Head of Unit for emission control of the State Administration Halle Hans-Jürgen Discher, Danilo Buscaglia, Chairman of the OPTERRA Management Board, and Frank Heisterkamp, Head of CRH Investor Relations.

Commitment to location

In a short speech, Buscaglia made it clear the OPTERRA is committed to investing heavily, not only in Karsdorf, but also in an environmentally friendly and forward-looking technology. This is evident in the new gas scrubber system, which makes it possible to comply with the legal requirements that have been in place since the beginning of 2019. The numerous sustainability measures relating to the neighbouring open pit mine also demonstrate this. The limestone quarry Karsdorf II is one of the few active quarries in Germany that have vineyards.

Regional impulse for Saxony-Anhalt

Haseloff, Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, emphasised the positive impact of the investment on the state of Saxony-Anhalt: “The new filter system uses the best available technology. It enables a significant reduction in NOX emissions. This is an important contribution to environmental protection. By securing the Karsdorf location and the jobs there, sustainable impulses for the region are generated.”

“The cement plant Karsdorf is closely linked with the region as a major industrial employer,” said Ulrich, District Administrator. “The further development of the plant is for us a commitment to the location in Burgenlandkreis. We are glad that OPTERRA is not only involved in environmental education projects and nature conservation measures, but is also socially active and supports our associations in the Unstruttal. Therefore, the commitment shows great potential not only with regard to the environment, but also with regard to the further development of the region."

Limits safely met

The company has stated that, with the commissioning of the new emission control system, the limit values for NOX, ammonia, and dust specified in the 17th Emission Control Ordinance can be met safely and reliably.

“This was made possible by converting the existing electrostatic precipitators to bag filters,” explained Berhold Perschall, Plant Manager. “On the other hand, we rely on modern selective catalytic reduction technology when cleaning hot exhaust gases. Here, a large part of the NOX in a catalyst is converted into atmospheric nitrogen and water.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/05082019/opterra-invests-in-new-filter-system/

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This article has been tagged under the following:

European cement news Cement news 2018