en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cement Australia has suspended operations at its Railton plant in northwestern Tasmania for approximately 45 days to upgrade its coal-fired kiln to accept alternative fuels such as waste tires and "sustainable" wood waste. The $77.5 million project aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and the plant is expected to begin operating with the new fuels after the shutdown period from May to July 2026.
In 2024, the company's CEO Rob Davies stated that alternative fuels would account for 35% of the fuel mix at the Railton plant, with wood waste comprising 30% and waste tires 5%. The company has been using alternative fuels since 2008, which currently make up 15% of its fuel consumption. In 2024, the Australian government provided $38 million in funding for the kiln's "Alternative Fuels Project," sourced from the $237 million "Powering the Regions" fund, which aims to help nine heavy industrial companies achieve decarbonization. By switching to alternative fuels, Cement Australia expects to reduce coal consumption by 110,000 tons per year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 tons annually.
Environmentalists have expressed concerns about the proposed sources of wood waste, suggesting it could come from plantation or native forest logging. Opponents argue that switching to wood waste as fuel could increase emissions. In April 2026, the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approved the project but imposed strict conditions. The EPA stated in a declaration: "The Board determined that while the proposal will result in an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and on-site dust generation, further action is required on existing nitrogen dioxide emissions." The additional conditions cover air pollutant emissions, on-site operational noise, and vehicle movement noise.
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