Limerick 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 Limerick plant is the oldest cement plant in Ireland. In 1983, the plant underwent a significant modernization with the commissioning of Kiln 6, a modern dry process kiln with a capacity of approximately 800,000 tonnes per annum. This upgrade replaced the older wet process kilns, enhancing fuel efficiency and production capacity.

In 2015, Irish Cement announced plans to introduce alternative fuels, such as used tyres and plastics, to replace traditional fossil fuels at the Limerick plant. This initiative aimed to improve sustainability and reduce operational costs.

In 2019, the plant was granted an exemption by the EPA, allowing a nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emission limit of 800 mg/m³, despite a European Union directive setting the limit at 500 mg/m³. This exemption was a point of contention among environmental groups.

In May 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted the plant a licence to use up to 90,000 tonnes per year of alternative fuels, including waste tyres, biomass, and mining by-products. This decision was legally challenged but ultimately upheld in January 2023.