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Lafarge hosts groundbreaking ceremony for Ravena modernisation project

Published by , Editor - Hydrocarbon Engineering
World Cement,


Lafarge North America Inc. hosted a groundbreaking event for the multi-million dollar modernisation project at its Ravena plant, New York, last week. The new state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with advanced efficiency features that will enable the plant to compete successfully and meet the economy's need for high quality cement. A number of national, state and local elected officials and regional leaders attended the event.

"Lafarge is committed to investing hundreds of millions of dollars to modernise the Ravena cement facility because we are committed to competing in the US market in an environmentally responsible way," said John Stull, Lafarge US President and CEO. "New York is an advantageous location for Lafarge. This is an opportunity to better serve customers in this market and allow us to continue contributing to building better cities and communities across the region."

The plant modernisation project received widespread support from the public, advocates and community and business leaders. In late 2013, Lafarge was granted an extension of the project timeline by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Paul Tonko, United States Congressman, said, "The Capital Region has long been home to innovative thinking that shifts and improves existing strategies on how business is done. I believe that, working with Lafarge and local leaders, we can put people back to work, invest in our region, and modernise existing manufacturing practices for a more sustainable outcome for both the product and the community. The facility being replaced has been a fixture in Ravena and Albany County for many years and I am happy to see Lafarge choose to continue their operations for another generation and welcome this new facility and its workforce to our area."

Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents the Town of Coeymans and a large portion of the Hudson Valley, also commented on the modernisation project: "Today's groundbreaking builds on Lafarge's commitment to good paying jobs and property taxes in support of our school and local governments. The modernisation will offer some $US163 million of additional economic benefits in labour, equipment and materials, while helping Lafarge to be an even better neighbour by dramatically reducing dust and other plant emissions. I believe everything flows from maintaining a strong economy. If our businesses and farms succeed, we succeed and our society prospers. This is good news for the region."

The modernisation project is scheduled for completion by 30 June 2016. It will include the construction of new plant facilities and the installation of a preheater/precalciner kiln, with a wet scrubber and selective non-catalytic reduction technologies for major emissions reductions and continuous air quality monitoring. When the new facilities are complete, the existing Ravena plant, which remains in compliance with all current environmental requirements, will be taken offline. The project is expected to retain the plant's 110 local jobs and create hundreds of temporary jobs during the construction phase.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/16042014/lafarge_hosts_groundbreaking_ceremony_for_ravena_modernisation_project_50/

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