Quinn Cement is aiming to further decrease its imported fossil fuel consumption by adopting the use of alternative fuels from local waste materials. These will be used to co-fuel cement production as part of the drive to make a significant contribution to more sustainable manufacturing processes. Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) has already been introduced into the manufacturing process and there is the potential for the company to reduces its annual coal usage by 50%. This will result in a saving of 1 t of CO2 for every t of SRF. This success has led Quinn Cement to seek permission to further extend its alternative fuel licence. The application has already been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If successful, Quinn Cement will invest up to £5 million in upgrading the plant to allow for the increased use of alternative fuels and alternative raw materials. This investment is predicted to benefit the local economy by creating further employment, both directly and indirectly. As well as increasing the workforce of the cement plant itself, Quinn Cement intend to source their supply of alternative fuels and raw materials locally. Quinn Cement also produces eco-efficient CEM II cements, which allow for the substitution of clinker in the final cement product with locally sourced raw materials, thereby further reducing CO2 emissions. Company policy is to move towards zero fossil fuel cement manufacturing over the next few years, where possible. The use of alternative fuels, along with the manufacture of eco-efficient cements, will make a significant contribution to sustainability. Speaking of the benefits of the proposed move, TP Feehan, General Manager at Quinn Cement said, “We are committed to growing a sustainable and environmentally-friendly business. We re making huge strides towards closed loop, zero waste production methods, which not only benefits the environment, but also the local economy. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously, and in line with direction from Europe, we re investing heavily in improving our production processes to ensure maximum recycling and efficiency, thereby reducing emissions and waste. By rethinking the way we produce, we are establishing a process which will achieve real progress towards sustainability.” /Source: WorldCement