Boral Limited has officially unveiled its upgraded carbon-reducing technology at the Berrima Cement Works in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales (NSW).
Chris Bowen, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, attended the opening event, emphasising the importance of the project in Australia’s broader decarbonisation efforts.
Boral’s Berrima Cement Works, which supplies 40 per cent of the cement used in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), plays a crucial role in both the company’s operations and the nation’s construction sector.
The upgraded facility is designed to reduce the plant’s reliance on emissions-intensive fuels, making it a key part of Boral’s strategy to achieve sustainability, the company said in a media release.
A significant component of the facility’s upgrade is the installation of the Chlorine Bypass, a system that reduces the build-up of chlorides and other by-products from alternative fuels.
This will allow Boral to increase its use of alternative fuels to 60 per cent at the site over the next three years, having already achieved 30 per cent coal substitution.
According to Boral, the Berrima Cement Works is an essential asset in its operations, not only for its role in the cement industry but also as a major regional employer, with around 115 people working at the site in operational and administrative capacities.
The broader Southern Highlands region benefits from the plant’s indirect support of jobs related to logistics, contractors, and suppliers, making Boral one of the largest employers in the Wingecarribee Local Government Area.
Vik Bansal, CEO of Boral, expressed pride in the facility’s achievements, stating, “From our Federal Highways to the Sydney Opera House and Parliament House in Canberra, for almost a century, the Berrima Cement Works have helped to build and shape Australia.”
He continued, “We all understand that though cement is vital to construction and building our nation, it is carbon-intensive. Boral takes its responsibility to decarbonise our operations and comply with the Safeguard Mechanism obligations seriously.”
“The Chlorine Bypass Facility reaffirms this commitment and moves our vital cement manufacturing infrastructure and Southern Highlands operations into a new era—one with less impact on the planet.”
Bansal also acknowledged the contributions of both the Federal and NSW governments in supporting the project.
