Balleyconnell Cement Plant
| This article is part of the Global Cement and Concrete Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
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Background
The Ballyconnell Cement Plant, located in County Cavan, Ireland, has experienced significant developments in ownership, modernization, and environmental initiatives.
In 2020, the plant's operator, previously known as Quinn Group, rebranded as Mannok, reflecting a new corporate identity. In August 2024, Türkiye-based Çimsa Çimento, a subsidiary of Sabancı Holding, signed an agreement to acquire a 95% stake in Mannok Holdings, the parent company of the Ballyconnell plant. The deal, based on an enterprise value of €330 million for 100% of the shares, marks Çimsa's entry into the Irish and UK markets.
In 2016, the plant implemented upgrades to accommodate a wider range of alternative fuels and raw materials, aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels. These upgrades included the installation of new storage and feeding systems for alternative fuels, as well as modifications to existing infrastructure to support the use of these materials. In 2023, the Ballyconnell plant installed the world's first FLSmidth Fuelflex Pyrolyzer, aiming to replace coal with solid recovered fuels (SRF) in the pre-calcination stage of cement production. This innovation has led to a reduction of approximately 58,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
