Irish Cement has moved to downplay concerns over the recent EPA decision to grant a license allowing for alternative fuels to be burned at its Mungret Plant.
It comes ahead of a protest in Limerick City tomorrow amid concerns over the impact on neighbouring communities.
Clare County Council is set to appeal the ruling, as Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill reports
In a statement issued to Clare FM today, Irish Cement says it has no plans to construct an incinerator at Mungret, and that the licence granted by the EPA only permits the gradual replacement of fossil fuels in the existing cement kiln with alternative fuels.
The company says this practice is safe, and has been standard in cement factories throughout Europe for 30 years.
It goes on to say that the use of alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels will directly reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent to taking over 12,000 cars off the road.
As part of the EPA licence, Communications Manager Brian Gilmore says Irish Cement will establish a community liaison committee, publish emissions data from the factory on its website and engage in a new dust monitoring and control programme as well as new noise monitoring procedures.
The company declined to offer a spokesperson for interview when approached to do so by Clare FM.
Irish Cement’s comments are unlikely to assuage the concerns of a number of groups who have strongly opposed this transition at their Mungret plant.
The EPA’s decision to grant the license is to be appealed by Clare County Council.
