EXSHAW – As the realities of climate change begin to take hold, LafargeHolcim is keen to do its part to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and hopes to achieve that goal by burning low-carbon fuels.
The cement giant has set an ambitious goal to cut 40 per cent of its national carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per tonne of cement below 1990 levels by 2030.
In western Canada, which includes a cement plant in Richmond, B.C., the company has even loftier ambitions with the aim to cut its emissions by 28 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
To do that the company is hoping to get approval from the province to burn low carbon fuels, such as construction waste, non-recyclable plastic and rubber, instead of burning natural gas to heat kiln six.
“That’s a pretty ambitious target and putting in a low carbon fuel initiative is going to really help achieve that,” said Kate Strachan, the Exshaw plant manager.
The local cement plant submitted its application to use low carbon fuels in February however the province has yet to make a final decision.
“We’re hoping to hear back from Alberta Environment and Parks, but there’s really no timeline for decision on the LCF proposal,” said Strachan, explaining the province has asked for more clarification about its plans, including how pollutants will be dispersed in the atmosphere.
According to the province, it has been working with the company to review its application, but at this point in time no decisions have been made.
“Lafarge’s Exshaw operation is certainly innovative and its goals for cutting emissions laudable,” wrote Matt Dykstra, press secretary for the minister of environment and parks.
“Currently, Alberta Environment and Parks is reviewing the application for amendment submitted for this project. Given the complexity of the change involved, we continue to review the technical aspects of the submission.”
In January, the company released the second of two studies that found substituting low carbon fuels for natural gas would have a “negligible” impact on harmful emissions and make no “substantial difference” in regard to human health risks.
Instead, by using low carbon fuels, such as rubber, shingles and construction waste, the company will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere thereby reducing its impact on the climate.
A recent report by the Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, found that cement is a major contributor to climate change and accounts for eight per cent of global CO2 emissions.
In fact, if the cement industry were a country it would be the third largest emitter in the world, behind China and the United States.
To bring the cement sector in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, the industry’s annual emissions will need to fall by at least 16 per cent by 2030 at a time when global cement production is set to increase to over five billion tonnes a year over the next three decades, according to the report.
To do its part, Lafarge wants to substitute up to 80 per cent of the natural gas it uses to heat kiln six with low carbon fuels to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. If approved, the plan will be implemented in two phases starting with a 50 per cent substitution rate.
The company has zeroed in on eight fuels it would like to burn, including carpet and textiles, treated wood products, asphalt shingles, wood products, non-recyclable plastics, rubber, construction renovation demolition and tire fluff. Many of these fuels have already been used at other Canadian cement plants in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Once the project is fully implemented, Lafarge predicts it could cut its carbon emissions by 300,000 tonnes annually, which is equivalent to taking 65,000 cars off the road every year.
In a statement of complaint sent to Alberta Environment and Parks, the Exshaw Community Association (ECA) said it was “satisfied” that the use of the proposed fuels does not pose a significant health risk to area residents, however it remained concerned about the transportation of the fuels through the community and the process of shredding the fuels onsite.
Lafarge estimated phase one of the project would require an additional 15 trucks a day to transport the low carbon fuel to the plant, while phase two would require 24 trucks. The community organization said it was also concerned about the possibility of more rail traffic, which could cut off residents on the south side of Exshaw.
The organization’s second concern included a proposal to build an onsite processing facility to shred the low carbon material into fuel, which the organization argued could increase the risk of accidental dust releases.
Earlier this fall, Lafarge promised to withdraw both proposals included in its application and in return asked the community association to withdraw its statement of concern.
Michelle Eve, a member at large with the community association, said her organization was pleased with Lafarge’s decision and would not stand in the way if the province approves the company’s application.
“When/if the permit approval is granted, the ECA will review the conditions of the permit approval and confirm that our concerns have been addressed,” wrote Eve. “If so, we will not appeal the permit approval. Based on our recent conversations with Lafarge, I do not expect we will need to appeal the approval.”
If the province approves the project, the low carbon fuel will be shredded outside the Municipal District of Bighorn and delivered by truck to the plant rather than by rail.
“Lafarge has been very open to communicating with us, they’ve been a good partner,” said Eve by telephone. “We’re not thrilled by the increased activity being proposed by bringing in these fuels, but we also understand the political and business climate right now calls for them to do this.”
According to the company’s website, the province’s carbon tax was one of the reasons Lafarge decided to cut its emissions, but not the only reason.
“Reduction of CO2 is focused on saving the environment, not saving costs,” wrote Strachan, in a follow up email. “Working to reduce CO2 will require capital investment in the near term and may feed back some cost savings in the future.”
As part of its plan, she said Lafarge is also working with researchers from the University of Calgary to complete a life cycle analysis study to measure emissions associated with the sourcing, processing and combustion of each low-carbon fuel compared to natural gas.
The company also wants to begin producing low carbon cement, known as Portland Limestone Cement, to help further cut its emissions. Lafarge hopes to begin using low carbon fuels by mid-2020.
