Cementos Bio, a leading cement company in Chile, has signed an agreement with utility company E-CL (formerly known as Empresa Electrica Del Norte Grande or Edelnor) to utilize 70 per cent of its daily production of fly ash. The fly ash will be obtained from central generating units Thermal Andina (CTA) and Thermal Power Hornitos (CTH) in Mejillones. Earlier all the ash was deposited in landfills. With this agreement in effect, the ash will be used to substitute Pozzolan while enhancing the cement`s durability and strength.
Carlos Ferruz, Manager of generation sites at E-CL, said, "This initiative gives a new use for the ash, incorporating this non-hazardous waste as a raw material to a useful product such as cement. Loading, transport and unloading is performed without gene-¡rating pollution." Ferruz added, "Usually the ash resulting from electricity generation is taken to a landfill, but with this innovation the ash acquires a new use and proves to be a real contribution to the environmental sustainability policies of both companies."