Shanks in second Castle Cement fuel deal

The announcement came this month as Environment minister Joan Ruddock revealed plans by Defra to actively stimulate markets for SRF across the country- including the development of a standard to distinguish SRF from untreated municipal solid waste.

Under the Shanks contract, up to 50,000 tonnes of solid recovered fuel produced at mechanical biological treatment plants at Jenkins Lane and Frog Island in East London and Dumfries in Scotland will be sent to Castle Cement's Ketton works in Rutland.

Here, the material will be shredded and blended by Castle's sister company SRM before being used to replace fossil fuels in the main kiln.

The deal follows the use of over 30,000 tonnes of Shanks's SRF at another Castle Cement kiln in Flintshire in Wales and has been hailed as testimony to the success of that partnership.

Richard Butcher, SRM director, said: “We have used over 30,000 tonens of this fuel in the last 18 months with great success. This is an achievement which bears testimony to the robust production processes used by Shanks and the experience of Castle in utilising the material.”

Tom Drury, Shanks Group chief executive, added: “We remain focused on the production and supply of SRF and we are confident that it presents a real alternative for a huge number of businesses in looking to achieve a shift away from a dependence on fossil fuels. Customers can be confident in our ability to ensure that we can produce and supply significant volumes of good quality fuel produced in the UK over the long term.”

Support

Shanks SRF contract success comes just after environment minister Joan Ruddock revealed that Defra would be actively supporting the use of solid recovered fuel because of the “major benefits” it could provide for UK industry.

Addressing the Waste Management Finance Forum in London on January 24, she said SRF would help the government to meet challenging renewable energy targets.

She said: “To meet this challenge in the waste sector, as well as demonstrating new technologies, Defra is stimulating the market for Solid Recovered Fuel – or SRF. The Greater Manchester waste management procurement supported by £100 million of PFI credits is a good example. The Laing Viridor consortium will use a variety of Mechanical and Biological Treatment technologies and supply Ineos Chlor in Runcorn with SRF to produce heat and electricity.

“Developing this market could have major benefits for the country's energy-intensive industries – cutting costs and carbon emissions at the same time. Two weeks ago, the government issued a response to the Renewables Obligation consultation,” she added.

Ms Ruddock explained that Defra would also look to create an industry-wide standard for what SRF was to drive demand forward.

She explained: “later this month Defra will be hosting a consultation event in Birmingham in order to establish the minimum standards to distinguish SRF from untreated municipal solid waste.”