As cities expand they grow closer to our plants, quarries, depots and ports, why residents may increasingly be disturbed by our operations. In some places our quarries also conflict with sensitive ecosystems. We are aware of these issues and work actively to minimise negative impact of our operations. Good relations with local residents are crucial
We must operate in harmony with society to be successful. To achieve our goal to be a good corporate citizen, co-existing with nature and the local community, we need to earn stakeholders’ trust through both actions and words that promote an understanding of our business. Therefore, we emphasize open and honest communication with neighbours. We try to be proactive when planning special events such as maintenance shutdowns that can cause disturbances, and the plant- and environmental managers regularly interact with local authorities and other stakeholders.
During 2007, we received about ninety complaints in total from authorities and residents, mainly regarding dust, vibrations and noise. This is a reduction from the number of complaints received during the 1990’s. We treat all complaints from our neighbours very seriously and try to assist those negatively impacted by our operations.
We support different kind of projects in the local communities where we operate. Through the sponsorship of local youth sports and art projects we want to make a contributon to creativity, diversity and quality of life.
Measures to reduce noise and vibrations
Blasting in limestone quarries, stone grinding and loading create noise and vibrations that can disturb local residents. Various measures, from changing our blasting procedures to better keeping the local community abreast of our mining activities, have been introduced to alleviate this. New blasting procedures include drilling more, but smaller, blasting holes, meaning fewer explosives are needed, resulting in smaller shock waves.
Tackling emissions from the plants Heat for cement kilns is produced by burning different fuels. This fuel combustion releases CO2 and varying amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOX). Sometimes sulphur oxides (SOX) is also released depending on the fuel and quality of the limestone burned. These emissions contribute to the acidification of land and water and
NOX also causes eutrophication. We systematically monitor and document emissions, and strive to outperform set limits.
Making transport efficient
Most of the cement plants and major depots are located on the coast or near major waterways. This means a large proportion of our products can be transported in bulk on specially designed vessels, resulting in very low emissions. We regularly consult with the vessel companies to check that all legal requirements concerning environment, safety and noise are followed. Inland transportation is largely conducted by truck or by rail.
Investing in new technology We have during the past years invested in all the plants to decrease emissions of NOX and SOX as well as HCl and CO2. Continuous investments are made to increase the use of alternative fuels and at the Kunda plant we have also invested in a new bag filter to decrease SOX emissions. In Slite and Skövde we have invested in SNCR technology to reduce NOX emissions. In Slite we have also invested in a scrubber to reduce SOX and a bypass-system to reduce the amount of dust. In Brevik investments have been made to reduce the levels of HCl, a by-product of the combustion of hazardous waste.
Quarry restoration
Although quarrying has a substantial and immediate impact on the local environment, with the right investment, disused quarries can be restored to once again become vibrant settings, benefiting both natural ecosystems and local residents. Rehabilitated quarries may become leisure areas, providing opportunities for nature walks, bathing and fishing. In providing permits for new quarry areas, authorities require that restoration plans are established and financial guarantees provided.