#NEWS: Twin green cement hubs in South Australia will provide 30 million tons of SCMs over the next two decades, driving down demand for high-CO2-emitting clinker-based cement in Australia.
Concrete Institute Bronze member, Hallett Group, will construct a manufacturing hub at Port Augusta and Port Adelaide that will “reduce Australian CO2 emissions of 300,000 tonnes per annum immediately, growing to approximately one million tonnes per annum in years to come”, according to the company.
When completed, the Green Cement Transformation Project (GCTP) will see the two sites process fly ash from the former Northern Power Station’s ash dam and the Nyrstar Port Pire slag pile as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) utilising established renewable energy sources.
The South Australia Government is providing a $12 million loan to Hallett Group as it progresses towards its $200 million GCTP in addition to an Australian Government grant of $20 million through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.
Hallett says it will use existing and proven technology to manufacture SCMs that can replace greater than 50% of traditional high CO2 emitting clinker-based cement.
“The project will immediately replace imports of SCMs and will future-proof Australia’s access to SCMs and green cement which becomes increasingly important as Australia’s current locally produced sources of SCM quality fly ash diminish in coming years in line with the reduction of coal fired power generation.
“With existing material reserves and ongoing production offtake Hallett can provide the market with 30 million tons of SCMs over the next 20 years and beyond. This surety of sovereign supply will promote greater uptake of SCM cement replacement and green cement with significant scope to drive down the 12 million tons per annum of high CO2 emitting clinker-based cement demand in Australia.”
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com