Landmark performance by the cement industry

UK cement industry continues to beat its EA-agreed environmental performance targets

DR Pal Chana, executive director of MPA Cement, has described the cement industry’s performance against its Environment Agency-agreed sector plan targets for 2010 as a ‘landmark’ for the industry.

In 2005, MPA Cement members entered into an historic five-year environmental performance programme with the Environment Agency, setting demanding targets to be met by 2010. The ‘Cement Industry Sector Plan’ had the primary objective to deliver improved performance in a wide range of areas against a 1998 baseline.

‘I am delighted to report that against our 2010 Environment Agency-agreed targets, the cement industry has not only met them, but surpassed them by some considerable margin in most cases,’ commented Dr Chana.

Progress highlights included a 59% reduction in NOx emissions; an 87% reduction in SO2 emissions; an 83% reduction in dust emissions from all sources; and a 22% reduction in CO2 emissions.

‘This step change in performance has not come easily or cheaply; it has taken multi-million pound investments against a backdrop of changing environmental legislation and ever-more challenging EU and UK climate change policies. Yet the industry has done everything asked of it and more,’ said Dr Chana. ‘We are immensely proud of this achievement and determined to maintain these high standards as we move forward.’

MPA Cement chairman Jon Morrish added: ‘The cement industry continues to go from strength to strength in delivering on its environmental commitments. When we agreed our 2010 targets with the Environment Agency we knew they were challenging and would take time, money and determination to succeed. MPA Cement members have invested in all three areas to achieve these outstanding results and I thank and congratulate every one of the industry’s employees for their contributions.’