DWER issues works approval

On 20 August 2021, Cockburn Cement Limited (CCL) received approval from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) to commence works to trial an engineering solution aimed at reducing the risk of odour generation in the stacks at its Munster site.

In recent years, CCL has worked with DWER to investigate and understand odour concerns raised by the local communities in the Munster, Beeliar and Yangebup suburbs of the City of Cockburn.

Following independent investigations, CCL identified an odour can be generated when shellsand, the raw material for lime production, is heated between 400°C and 600°C. Since identifying the source of odour and the potential impact of increased temperatures, CCL has been investigating an option that would change the temperature profile in our kilns.

The trial will see a change in the feed location of shell sand and the temperature profile of the kiln, with the anticipated outcome that this solution will substantially reduce or eliminate the risk of odour from the kiln stacks.

In laboratory scale trials this methodology has shown approximate odour removal efficiencies of between 70% and 90%. CCL will now trial this approach at full scale.

The trial is expected to begin in the summer months of 2021/22.

If the odour reduction trials are successful, this solution could be permanently implemented and operational in 2022, reducing the risk of odour detections in the community.