This paper looks at the effects of the decline of coal power production on by-products produced in the UK cementitious market. Cementitious by-products are made out of a mixture of calcium carbonate in the form of limestone, alumina, silica and iron oxide. A kiln with very high temperatures is used to heat the raw materials under certain temperatures to produce clinker. Further, the clinker is mixed with ground and gypsum to a very fine powder to make cement. On the other hand, coal is used as a source of energy in the process that is fueled to heat the raw materials to form clinker.
Reasons for the Decline of Coal Power Production in the UK
There are various reasons that have led to the decline of coal power production in the United Kingdom. Firstly, the coal industry in the UK has become uncompetitive over the years on a global scale. The rising costs of production and wages have made importing coal from abroad very cheap. For example, many power stations in the UK import substantial amounts of coal from Argentina. Secondly, there have been other new alternative sources of energy in the UK. For example, oil and North Sea gas. Consequently, the falling of the coal industry directly affects the by-products produced in the UK cementitious market. The products are decreasing in both production and quality. To learn more about the reasons of the decline of coal production and how it affects the by-products produced in the UK cementitious market
The Major By-products Produced in the UK Cementitious Market
The cement industry in the UK contributes up to a billion pounds every year to the UK economy. This is why the decline of coal power production harms the cement industry, thus, generally affecting the whole industry. Furthermore, the industry operates 12 manufacturing and two blending and grinding plants. These produces up to 10 million tonnes of cement and its by-products annually. As such, MPA cement is the trade association that represents the five main manufacturers in the country. As a result, these statistics indicate that by-products produced in the UK cementitious market contribute heavily to the country’s economy.
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