‘What comes out of our chimney stacks is cleaner than what is coming out of your diesel cars’

ANN CASEY
An Bord Pleanála intends to hold an oral hearing into Irish Cement's planning application to increase the quantity of alternative fuels it can burn in its kilns.
The company has applied for permission to increase the tonnage of alternative fuels it can burn to 600,000 tonnes per annum, up from 120,000 tonnes.
The oral hearing will take place in the City North Hotel, Gormanston, starting on 21st November.  
This project seeks to replace existing fossil fuel use by increasing the quantity and range of alternative fuels used in the cement kilns in Platin.
According to Communications Manager, Brian Gilmore, this will reduce Platin’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, reduce CO2 emissions by up to 300,000 tonnes per year, and will help recover valuable resources that might otherwise end up in landfill.
“It will allow Platin to continue to operate competitively and will support existing direct and indirect employment in the Cement Works.”
At a recent council meeting it had been claimed the company was seeking to more than quadruple the amount of fuel it  burns, but Mr Gilmore said this was not the case - they are seeking to replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels.
“In 2016, we used up our 120,000 tonne allowance of alternative fuels and then had to use pet coke, the fossil fuel we are currently using.”
Residents in the area have expressed concern that the waste products they are seeking permission to burn are hazardous and will be a risk to health in the local community.

“Cement kilns use such intense heat, the fuel is heated to 1,450 degrees and the gas to 2000 degrees so there is complete combustion - all that comes out of the chimney stacks are carbon dioxide and water vapour.
“What is coming out of our chimney stacks is cleaner than what is coming out of your diesel cars.”
Mr Gilmore pointed out that EU limits allow for 3 per cent of emissions to contain substances such as dioxins, but Irish Cements levels are at .003 per cent.
“It is a very, very safe process,” he said.
“The process allows us to stop importing fossil fuels, totally eliminate emissions and get rid of waste that would otherwise go to landfill.
He explained that they have one kiln working at the moment and a second kiln will be brought into action when there is demand, as building industry increases.
“If we get the permission to burn more alternative waste, this would mean we could be at full production using alternative fuels.
“At the moment we are at about 50 per cent production.”
Mr Gilmore explained that here is a plentiful supply in Ireland of Solid Recovered Fuel (RSF) which contains fragments of paper, plastics, cardboard and textiles, which is what they have been using and intend to use as an alternative fuel.
They also have permission to use old tyres and meat and bonemeal, but they have not been used at Platin and there are no plans at the moment to use them at the moment.

The current application also allows for waste such as dried sewage pellets to be used in the incineration.
“This is not something we are planning for at the moment. It is just future proofing the business. It is a dried fuel and much less unpleasant than it would be before it is dried and would eliminate the need to spread it on land.”
Mr Gilmore said that they had no problems with calls from local people for an EPA office in the area and pointed out there is continuous monitoring at the plant and 95 per cent of EPA visits to the site are unannounced.
Irish Currently employs 140 people at the Platin Plant and every Spring when production is shut down, there are up to 400 people working on site ensuring everything is properly maintained.
“We are worth tens of millions  year to the local community,” said Mr Gilmore.
Platin first began using alternative fuels in 2011 and by 2016 had reached its current 120,000 tonne permitted limit. Replacing fossil fuels in cement factories is standard practice in Ireland and throughout Europe, and is in line with European, national and regional waste management policy.