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UK Cement and Lime sectors achieve climate change target

Jul, 22 2009

(London, UK) -- The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is pleased to announce that the Cement and Lime sectors within the United Kingdom have achieved their energy efficiency goals as detailed in their Climate Change Agreements for the target period 4, (2008).

Collectively the cement manufacturers have exceeded their targets of improving specific energy consumption by 26.6% over 1990 levels ahead of schedule, recording an actual reduction level of 33.7%. Within the lime sector, the manufacturers have achieved a specific energy consumption of 940kW h/tonne against a target of 955kW h/tonne.

This will secure retention of the full rebate on the Climate Change Levy applied to its fuels.

The five UK cement participants in the cement sector Climate Change Agreement (Hanson Cement, CEMEX UK Operations, Tarmac Buxton Lime & Cement, Lafarge Cement and Quinn Cement) account for 100% of the UK Portland Cement production. All participants have underlying agreements that underpin challenging energy efficiency targets against a 1990 baseline. Improvements in sector energy efficiency from new and updated plant have been supplemented by further use of waste- derived fuels.

MPA Cement’s Executive Director, Dr Pal Chana said ‘The UK industry is committed to tackling climate change through reducing emissions and providing energy-saving solutions through its products’. ‘This impressive performance was achieved despite the present state of the market, and our members remain committed to further improve performance, working towards the government’s target of an 80% reduction by 2050’.

The Mineral Products Association has been formed through the merger of the British Cement Association (BCA), the Quarry Products Association (QPA) with its membership covering land based, marine, recycled and secondary aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete, agricultural lime, industrial lime, mortar, silica sand and The Concrete Centre. It represents 222 members across the UK.