Lafarge upgrades Alberta cement plant, achieves major environmental milestones

Lafarge Canada’s cement plant in Exshaw, Alta. has met its target to reduce emissions of dust, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from its existing cement kiln line, and achieved zero water discharge from its operations.

As part of the plant’s expansion, which will increase manufacturing capacity by 60 per cent, Lafarge upgraded an existing manufacturing line and is constructing a new kiln line.

With the upgrade of the existing line now complete, Exshaw has reduced SO2 emissions by 60 per cent and NOx by 40 per cent.

Lafarge has invested $20 million in this upgrade, which has introduced additional dust mitigation and noise abatement equipment. The upgrades are part of Lafarge’s Sustainability Ambitions for 2020 to provide solutions using sustainable manufacturing practices and improving the environment in and around its operations.

“We’ve taken the first major step to reduce SO2, NOx and kiln particulate matter,” said Bob Cooper, vice-president of Western Canada Cement for Lafarge. “And we are now recycling all of our cooling water, which means no discharge back to the Bow River and the plant is drawing less water.”

Lafarge aims to complete its next major milestone at the plant – a new kiln line and vertical cement mill – by the summer of 2015.

The economic impact of the plant’s increased production and GDP of Alberta is about $800 million per year.