Golden Bay’s new plant soon to be on stream

Press, 15 July 1982, Page 20

Golden Bay’s new plant soon to be on stream

The Golden Bay Cement Group's $4O million plant conversion investment at Portland, near Whangarei, comes closer to full operation this month when final kiln modification takes place. The company expects that the new dry process operation, the most modern in the country, will be fully operational about 15 weeks after that date.

The group production director. Mr Brian Hopkins, said that the conversion project — from an energy ex-' pensive wet process operation to a modern pre-heated dry process — has been an essential investment for the company to ensure continuing viability of the Whangarei operation. He maintained that ,if the conversion process had not been undertaken, the inefficiency of the existing operations would have led, in a short time, to the works' complete closure. "Geographically, the Portland plant enjoys singular advantages,” said Mr r<opkins: "It is close to abundant raw materials, close to the large Auckland market, has its own hydro-electric power station which can provide up to 30 per cent of the works’ power needs, and it has a well-trained workforce, and is adjacent to servicing resources in the nearby city of Whangarei.

‘'However." Mr Hopkins said, "the existing operation uses, some 34 tonnes of Huntly coal to produce 100 tonnes of cement, and the process causes some harbour pollution.” Now, according to Mr Hopkins, the new dry process plant has solved these problems by halving the works’ coal consumption, reducing plant maintenance by converting the works to a single kiln unit, and eliminating kiln dust losses and harbour pollution, which were a feature of the wet process plant. The improvement of plant economics had, in turn, meant continuing employment opportunities for the people at the plant. “In converting to the dry process, we have allowed Portland to survive as an efficient cement manufacturing plant,” said Mr Hopkins. "When it comes on line towards the end of the year, it will be. the most modern and best eouipped plant in New Zealand”

He said that in terms of fuel efficiency, it will supersede the group’s Tarakohe Works near Nelson, which has, since its conversion td a semi-dry process in the late 19505. enjoyed the reputation as the most fuelefficent plant in New Zealand.

Mr Hopkins said that al-

though the new Portland plant will operate with a lower labour force, the company has agreed with the various works’ unions that a natural attrition policy will apply, and no employees will be made redundant.