Lafarge’s multi-year, multi-phase Low Carbon Fuels (LCF) Project has been approved by the Government of Alberta. Alberta Environment and Parks signed an amendment on April 23, 2020 with a series of terms and conditions to be met, including an air quality monitoring and reporting procedure.
Lafarge Exshaw Cement Plant is now permitted to use the following eight fuel streams: carpet and textiles (non-recyclable), treated wood products, asphalt shingles (excluding asbestos), wood products, plastics (non-recyclable), rubber (non-recyclable), construction renovation demolition and tire fluff. All these fuels have been successfully used at other Canadian cement plants.
“I would like to thank the community and Public Advisory Committee for your input over the course of this project. Your feedback was critical. It allowed us to understand and respond to your questions and concerns. Thanks for sticking with us and informing this work,” said Kate Strachan, Manager, Lafarge Exshaw Cement Plant.
As per the amendment, all LCF will be processed offsite, delivered in an enclosed transport truck trailer, stored in an LCF-specific building and used only in Kiln 6. Lafarge is authorized to screen, shred, blend and dedust materials onsite. All non-combustible or rejected materials must be stored in a waste container. Large is proceeding with engineering work on the project. A Steering Committee has been formed with Emissions Reduction Alberta, who committed $10 million to the project, and will meet regularly to review progress.
Terms and conditions also require monitoring and reporting air emissions, including an annual LCF Summary Report. The amendment also outlines details for a reduction of Kiln 6 sulphur dioxide maximum emission rates once LCF operations begin.
In Phase 1 of the project, Lafarge wants to replace 30–50 per cent of fossil fuel use with lower carbon fuels. Phase 2 will increase low carbon fuels injection up to 80 per cent. 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.
THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
We appreciate your time and effort.
- Dene Cooper, MD of Bighorn
- Paul Ryan, MD of Bighorn
- Bruce Gleig, Bow Valley Biosphere Institute
- Hal Rhetzher, Bow Valley Clean Air Society
- Darcy Coombs, Lac Des Arcs community member
- Graham Lock, Lac Des Arcs community member
- Brian Thompson, Exshaw community member
- Michelle Eve, Exshaw Community Association Representative
- Aster Wang, Alberta Environment and Parks (Observer)