Berrima Cement Works upgrades with sustainable tech

Boral has unveiled new carbon-reducing technology at its Berrima Cement Works, with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen officially opening the upgraded facility on 4 December.

Located in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Berrima Cement Works supplies 40% of cement in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. The site is strategically important both for the company and Australia’s manufacturing capability.

The upgraded facility represents a significant milestone in Boral’s decarbonisation journey as it moves away from a reliance on emissions-intensive fuels.

A key part of the upgrade is the Chlorine Bypass, which reduces the build-up of chlorides and other alternative fuel by-products as clinker is produced in the cement works’ kiln. This allows Boral to work towards its decarbonisation goal without the risks associated with increased build-up of materials within the process.

Boral CEO Vik Bansal with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen at the opening of the upgraded facility.

“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,” Boral CEO Vik Bansal said at the facility opening.

“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.”

Berrima Cement Works is one of the largest employers within the Wingecarribee Local Government Area, with about 115 people working in operational and administrative roles and approximately 350 people employed across integrated sites in the Southern Highlands. The cement works also indirectly support local jobs associated with logistics, contractors and suppliers.

“We thank both the federal government and NSW Government for their respective investment in this facility and remain committed to decarbonising our operations, in line with our net zero commitment,” Bansal said.

All images courtesy of Boral.