British Cement Association supports Queen's speech policy proposals

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Friday, 09, Nov 2007 12:00

Climate Change Bill

The cement industry is supportive of the government's targets to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 and 26-32% by 2020, against a 1990 baseline, as announced in today's Queen's speech.

The industry has been active in reducing its carbon footprint and since 1990, UK cement manufactures have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 29%, saving over 3.9 million tonnes of CO2. Cement manufacture accounts for just 1.76% of total UK CO2 emissions which are subject to the UK Climate Change Levy (UK CCL) and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), both measures seeking to achieve very similar goals for the reduction of emissions. Whilst the industry supports initiatives to impose carbon reducing targets on a much wider range of organizations, concerns remain over the current duplication of regulation between the UK CCL and EU ETS.

Significant investment in both modern kilns and energy efficient technologies has contributed to a 27.5% fall in energy use since 1990. In 2006 alone, the cement industry used over 1.1 million tonnes of waste which otherwise would have gone to landfill or incineration. Other initiatives such as the replacement of primary raw materials and fossil fuels by processing wastes and by-products from other industries into alternative raw materials or fuels for use in the cement kiln have reduced the cement industry’s environmental impact.

Planning Reform Bill

The cement industry welcomes measures within the Planning Reform Bill that are designed to streamline the planning process and speed up new projects. Planning remains one of the major sources of delays in most capital schemes despite the environmental and energy efficiency benefits they will bring. £500 million investment in cement production in recent years has improved industry performance – in terms of environment, health and safety and production.

Over 90% of the cement used within the UK is manufactured domestically and this is fundamental to delivery of new homes and infrastructure - the industry will help deliver 3 million new homes by 2020.

In addition to new manufacturing capability, planning has a substantial impact on the access to raw materials for the industry, where certainty of long-term access to these resources is fundamental to the viability of new and existing operations.

Mike Gilbert, Chief Executive of the BCA, said, "the focus for the cement industry is to continue with driving towards sustainable production, reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of alternative raw materials. We are also working closely with our partners in the built environment to ensure we contribute effectively to the sustainable construction debate”.

-ENDS-

For further information:

Diana Maxwell, Head of Public Affairs and External Communications at the British Cement Association. Telephone 01276 608708, mobile 07866 388250, email dmaxwell@bca.org.uk

Melanie Osler, Communications Executive at the British Cement Association, Telephone 01276 608707, mobile 07870 179769

Notes to editors:

The British Cement Association (BCA) is the trade and research organisation that represents the interests of the United Kingdom’s cement industry in its relations with Her Majesty’s Government, the European Union and relevant organisations in the United Kingdom. The members of the BCA (Tarmac Buxton Lime and Cement, Castle Cement, CEMEX UK and Lafarge Cement UK) are the major domestic manufacturers of Portland cement producing over 90% of the cement sold in the UK.

The cement industry has an annual turnover of £775 million and is a major supplier to the construction industry. It employs around 3,500 people directly with a further 15,000 jobs depending upon its operations.