Skip to main content

MPA Cement annual performance report shows reduced carbon emissions

Published by , Editorial Assistant
World Cement,


A 2018 annual performance report, published by MPA Cement, highlights the industry’s contribution to the economy in 2017. Although there was a 3.4% reduction in 2017 domestic production compared to 2016, cement production was 9.5 million t and sales were 31% higher than in 2012, showing growth since the end of the recession period.

Following the launch of the MPA Charter in 2017, MPA Cement’s sustainability development report sets out to align with seven strategic MPA priorities. The report particularly highlights the cement industry’s positive contribution towards health and safety, people, resource use, climate change and energy, the natural environment, the built environment, and starts by communicating industry value.

The association reports that the number one priority is the health and safety of its employees, contractors, and neighbours. In 2017, five areas for improvement were identified. These include risk reduction during kiln shutdowns, improving knowledge on process safety techniques, better communication on health and safety issues and incidents, reducing dust exposure of employees, and better root cause analysis of incidents.

In 2017, the cement industry used 1.5 million t of waste and byproducts from other industries through coprocessing. 2017 saw the industry’s first recognition for its contribution to the circular economy, being noted in a government report: ‘From waste to resource productivity,’ which was co-authored by Prof. Ian Boyd, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural affairs, and Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Advisor.

The association has reported that the UK cement industry continues to be successful in reducing costs and improving its carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency. For example, using alternative fuels instead of traditional fossil fuels, and utilising renewable energy sources.

Direct emissions of CO2 per tonne of portland cement in 2017 were 25% lower than in 1998 and 0.4% lower than in 2016. Use of waste-derived fuels increased to 44% of the thermal input, with 18.3% of the thermal input to the cement manufacturing process being composed of waste biomass fuels.

It has also been reported that the cement industry has invested heavily and made considerable progress in reducing its impact on the natural environment. It is reported that 86% of cement producing sites are covered by biodiversity action plans that ensure all mineral working sites are restored after use – often enhancing local biodiversity. This statistic includes kiln sites, quarries, grinding and blending plants, and depots.

“This report highlights the continued commitment to sustainable development of our five UK portland cement producers,” said Dr Richard Leese, Director of MPA Cement. “It demonstrates that UK cement production is at the heart of the UK’s circular economy by adding value, through recycling and recovery, to society’s waste. However, the industry continues to face strong competition from imports, not least because of the cumulative effect of UK environmental policies and taxation. With a supportive policy framework, the UK producers are ready to supply the housing and infrastructure aspirations of a low carbon UK economy through the solutions that our downstream products can deliver to the built environment.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/13122018/mpa-cement-annual-performance-report-shows-reduced-carbon-emissions/

You might also like

 
 

Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):


 

This article has been tagged under the following:

UK cement news Cement news 2018