Boral has unveiled upgraded carbon-reducing technology at its Berrima Cement Works in a major milestone for its net-zero ambitions.
The official opening was attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen who opened the upgraded site. The site itself is responsible for supplying 40 per cent of cement in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) according to Boral.
The cornerstone of the upgraded facility is the chlorine bypass facility which will help reduce the builld-up of chlorides and other alternative fuel by-products in the production process. This feature will help increase alternative fuel usage at the Berrima site to around 60 per cent over the next three years. Boral says it has already achieved 30 per cent coal substitution to date.
“This is a very substantial effort by Boral to Australia’s decarbonisation goals,” Bowen said.
“It is very much a partnership because it is in Boral’s best interest to reduce emissions. Investors, consumers and staff want to know what your decarbonisation plans are and Boral are good corporate citizens, so they want to see emissions come down and it is in the national interest as well.
“Boral has a bright future here in Berrima and here in Australia.”
The Berrima Cement Works upgrade is a major milestone for Boral, which is continuing to reduce its reliance on emissions-intensive fuels.
It is also an important regional employer, with a workforce of around 115 people in operational and administrative roles, contributing to the approximately 350 people employed across integrated sites in the Southern Highlands.
“From our federal highways to the Sydney Opera House and Parliament House in Canberra, for almost a century, the Berrima Cement Works have helped to build and shape Australia,” said Vik Bansal, chief executive officer of Boral.
“We all understand that though cement is vital to construction and building our nation, it is carbon-intensive. Boral takes its responsibility to decarbonise our operations and comply with the Safeguard Mechanism obligations seriously.
“The Chlorine Bypass Facility reaffirms this commitment and moves our vital cement manufacturing infrastructure and Southern Highlands operations into a new era – one with less impact on the planet.
“We thank both the Federal government and NSW Government for their respective investment in this facility and remain committed to decarbonising our operations, in line with our net-zero commitment.”