CKI Pioneers Environmentally Friendly Cement Production

9 March, 1997 - Hong Kong

Green Island Cement (Holdings) Ltd (GIC), the cement subsidiary of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd (CKI), announced today that it has received licensing approval from Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department to utilise an environmentally friendly method to fuel its cement kilns.

GIC has obtained approval to burn a MARPOL-derived fuel in its cement kiln at China Cement. MARPOL is a waste residue from the fuel tanks of ocean-going vessels, which can be a major pollutant if not treated properly. GIC's cement kilns, with their unique incineration properties, are an ideal environmentally friendly way of disposing of this waste product.

Mr Barrie Cook, Managing Director of Green Island Cement (Holdings) Ltd, explained, GIC has been a leader in the field of transforming potentially hazardous wastes into cost-effective raw materials. For example, we pioneered the use of fuel ash in cement production in Hong Kong and Southern China."

Fuel ash, or PFA, is the waste ash residue left over from the burning of coal in power stations. Previously, PFA was disposed of by dumping the material into lagoons. GIC introduced a method of utilising PFA in the cement production process, and now consumes virtually all of the PFA produced in Hong Kong - having productively disposed of over 400,000 tonnes of the waste material in 1996.

GIC incorporates PFA in the production of low alkaline cement - a product which has been widely accepted and now accounts for 13.6% of all cement sold in Hong Kong. GIC first introduced PFA low alkaline cement in 1993 to meet the Government's requirement for absolute limits of alkalinity found in concrete. Due to the unique set-up and technology at GIC's production facilities, low alkaline cement can be produced at a 25% cost advantage.

In addition, GIC now utilises gypsum, a by-product of the gas desulpherisation process at Hongkong Electric's Lamma Power Station, in the manufacturing of cement.

"We see the use of MARPOL as a logical extension of our waste handling activities. By utilising waste materials in our cement production process, we are not only helping to preserve the environment, but are reducing our operating costs as well. It's truly a win-win situation for both GIC and Hong Kong as a whole", commented Mr Cook.

"GIC has been committed to the global trend of environmental consciousness - last year, our China Cement subsidiary won the PSCE Environmental Performance Award. Our environmental programme is good sense and good business, and we are looking forward to integrating our environmental efforts into our operations in the PRC", concluded Mr Cook.

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