China: Huaxin Cement built three co-processing projects for its cement plants in 2016. It also signed contracts to build 10 new projects and six new projects were under construction. The cement producer said in its annual report that it had 25 co-processing projects operating or under construction with a capacity of 5Mt/yr. It added that its waste disposal per tonne of clinker production was ahead of its competitors in the sector. It noted that its had increased its usage of alternative fuels in the second half of the year following an increase in the cost of coal. Huaxin Cement, like other Chinese cement producers, has been actively enacting government-promoted supply side reforms following a poor market in 2015.
Lafarge Africa raises alternative fuels capacities at Nigerian cement plants
Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has raised its capacity to use alternative fuels at its Ewekoro 1 cement plant to a substitution rate of 50%. Its Sagamu plant has the capacity to operate a substitution rate of up to 25%. Its alternative fuels sources include locally sourced palm kernel shells, woodchips, tyres and refuse. It is unclear whether or not the plants will be able to make use of this capacity in the near term.
“Our energy optimisation plan has proved successful with increased use of alternative fuel to offset gas shortages. Ewekoro 1 plant migrated from 100% reliance on gas and low pour fuel oil (LPFO) to about 40% use of alternative fuels at the plant,” said Michel Puchercos, the chief executive officer of Lafarge Africa in the group’s results for the fourth quarter of 2016.
The subsidiary of LafargeHolcim plans to use alternative fuels at all of its Nigerian cement plants by 2018. Ewekoro 2 will be utilising alternative fuels, Ashaka will be using alternative fuels and coal and Mfamosing is expected to be using petcoke and alternative fuels.
Lindner starts sales partnership with Ryohshin in Japan
Japan: Austria’s Lindner-Recyclingtech has entered into a sales partnership with the Japanese company Ryohshin in Toyama to strengthen its presence in the region. The Japanese recycling technology company will assume responsibility for selling Lindner shredding products to the local waste management industry.
‘The Japanese shredder market is characterised by high demand and fierce competition, with a focus on replacing older systems, upgrades and expanding existing capacities. To succeed in this environment in the long term, we choose our partners worldwide according to very strict criteria,” said Osamu Kono, the chief executive officer of Ryohshin.
Speed cement plant starts legal action against local government for stopping it using alternative fuels
US: Lawyers representing the Speed cement plant in Indiana have started taking legal action against the Clark County planning commission for reversing permission for the site to use alternative fuels. The plant’s lawyers say it invested US$1.5m on a fuel conversion project, according to the Courier Journal newspaper. The plant also says that it will lose money as coal is more expensive to burn. The local planning commission reversed a previous decision to let the plant burn alternative fuels in mid-2016 following complaints by the public.