Several steps till cement plant decision

Several steps till cement plant decision

While an Environment Court decision will be one further step in the process to ensure continued long-term cement supply for New Zealand, there are still some important stages to work through before a final decision on whether a Holcim cement plant will go ahead in the Oamaru area.

Some of those steps are outlined in a Holcim newsletter being circulated this week to approximately 8,000 Oamaru residents. Amongst them is several months’ work still to be completed on the detailed costings, feasibility study and business case for the project, which cannot be completed until any final consent conditions are known.

Holcim New Zealand expects the Environment Court’s decision will be released by late August, following completion of the Environment Court hearing on 15 May. The final decision on whether the plant will proceed will be made by Holcim New Zealand’s parent company, Holcim Ltd.

In the newsletter Holcim has thanked those who participated in the Environment Court Appeal process.

“Since we first announced our intention to explore Weston as an option for a new cement plant in May 2006, we have had substantial support from throughout the community,” said Holcim Capital Projects Manager, Ken Cowie. “We truly appreciate the high level of interest and support we continue to receive.”

The newsletter also details Government recognition Holcim subsidiary Geocycle recently received for its environmentally responsible disposal of used oil. In April the company’s Used Oil Recovery Programme was the first in New Zealand to receive accreditation as a Product Stewardship Scheme under the Waste Minimisation Act (2008). Used oil is used as an alternative fuel, reducing use of non-renewable coal resources in the cement kilns

ENDS

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