The cement manufacturer, Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL) has committed at least 20 percent of its planned 2024 investment to increasing its sustainability efforts at its Rockfort plant on the path to achieving net zero emissions status as a company. The plan is to increase the use of alternative fuels and reuse materials such as tires. These efforts will contribute to savings in operating expenses and fuel costs.
The company mentioned that to this date they have already shredded more than 9,000 tires; this entire tire reuse process began after their alliance with the Government of Jamaica. As a result, an important part of the estimated 1.5 million tires in the country’s landfill will be safely and sustainably disposed. The same will happen to other materials such as pallets, which are also now used as an alternative fuel source in the cement manufacturing process.
On a recent visit to the Rockfort plant by the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), Jorge Martinez, the CEO of Caribbean Cement, spoke about the efforts towards being a more sustainable company, including the reuse of tires that It will also help reduce carbon emissions.
The director also mentioned that for now his first objective by the end of 2024 is to reach at least the use of 10% in alternative fuels. Some fuels that are not renewable will be eliminated to replace them with others that are renewable. This is part of the program future in action. Some of these actions are also related to the reuse of some materials, given that they take waste materials from other industries and beach cleanups to reuse them in the plant.
This is one of the projects in which they are investing among many others that the company is carrying out. For this year and the next, they will invest more than 40 million dollars to move forward with their objectives. They plan to purchase more tires and also different RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) and alternative fuels, which will positively impact fuel cost savings.
The company’s operating expenses through the end of March were $4.7 billion, of which $1.3 billion was in fuel and electricity costs during that period. Over the three months, revenue grew to $7.6 billion and profits soared to $1.9 billion.
Following the last year’s release of its Ultimate Technology for Industrial Savings (UTIS) device, which uses water electrolysis to improve specific heat consumption, the company progressed in their efforts to promote a circular economy. As well as millions in investment to optimize the plant’s combustion chamber and explore different and newer sources of alternative fuels.
Jorge Martinez also stated that according to the program future in action, some specific efforts are planned to build more mangroves throughout the island. For this year they also have some specific objectives that will allow them to further reduce their carbon footprint.
Caribbean Cement Company Limited is a company that has been in business since 1952 and is the only manufacturer of Portland cement and blended cement in Jamaica. Its main plant and operations are located in Rockfort, Kingston, with additional quarry operations in both St. Andrew and St. Thomas. CCCL produces high-quality products using 100% indigenous raw materials, all sourced within a 10-mile radius of its main plant. CCCL is a member of the TCL Group, which is owned by CEMEX.
CCCL focuses its efforts on meeting the needs of its clients by providing high-quality construction solutions in an environmentally friendly manner, all through a competent, inspired and motivated team, thus achieving the financial objectives of its shareholders and adding value to the community.
Source: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ and https://caribcement.com/