Q.  When did Alberta Environment give approval to the Edmonton Cement plant to add coal and petroleum coke as a kiln fuel source?

A.  The approval was granted in May 2002. Construction started immediately and coal was first used as a kiln fuel on February 14, 2003. The new approval allows the Edmonton plant flexibility to use coal and petroleum coal, in addition to natural gas and tires as a fuel source.

Q.  What role does Alberta Environment have?

A.  Alberta Environment sets the terms of our operating approval and requires testing for compliance with approval conditions. Testing is completed by a third party who reports the results to Alberta Environment. Alberta Environment also requires the plant to submit reports on a regular basis.

Q.  Why did the plant switch from natural gas to coal as a kiln fuel source?

A.  With the rising cost of natural gas Lehigh Inland was faced with a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace as most other cement manufacturers – in Canada and around the world – were using lower cost fuels.

Q.  What kiln fuels do other cement plants around the world use?

A.  Coal is the primary fuel used. Other fuel sources used are tires, oil, petroleum coke and waste. Cement plants are the best facilities to use coal because of the high temperature process, the long retention time in the kiln, and the scrubbing action in the manufacturing process.  This means that waste products are not generated because the products of combustion are retained in the cement clinker. Other industries using coal produce waste ash during their process. Cement plants use the waste ash – fly ash and bottom ash – in the manufacturing because they contain the chemical properties needed to make a good cement product.

Q.  What kind of coal is used at the Edmonton plant?

A.  The plant uses sub-bituminous (thermal) coal from the Highvale mine near Wabamun, Alberta.

Q.  How are the kiln exhaust gases cleaned?

A.  A bag house system, considered to be the best available technology, is used to clean the kiln exhaust gases of any particulate matter. The bag house functions like a vacuum cleaner with emissions passing through the bags before being exhausted through the stack. The cement dust collected in the bags is then returned to the manufacturing process.

Q.  How effective is the bag house system?

A.  The bag house is extremely effective. Current stack emission levels are well below the allowable limit on the plant’s operating license.

Q.  What has been the change with stack test results since the switch to coal from natural gas?

A.  Results indicate very little change. Particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and heavy metals are all well below approval limits.

Q.  Where can I find data on the air monitoring at the stations near the Edmonton plant site?

A.  The data for the industrial air station (across the Yellowhead Highway from the plant site) and the residential air station (downwind from the plant site) can be found at this link on our website /NR/exeres/7775DCD9-E9B3-4277-B1FF-67CA0DC6C463.htm