23 January 2019

AGL DECISION TO SUSPEND SUPPLY OF COAL COMBUSTION PRODUCTS 

The Ash Development Association of Australia (ADAA) representing Australian coal-fired power stations and marketers[1] of power station coal combustion products (CCPs), supports the decision by AGL’s Bayswater Power Station[2]  to suspend CCPs distribution until a full investigation is conducted into claims about elevated levels of trace metals. 

The Chief Executive of the ADAA, Mr. Craig Heidrich based on contact with relevant parties said gaining a deeper understanding of the preliminary findings is paramount and offers the Association’s support and relevant information about the widespread and safe use of CCPs.

“It’s our understanding AGL are working closely with the NSW EPA and affected users to undertake a full investigation into sites practices which led to non-compliance with the ‘Coal Ash Order 2014[3] ’. Our Association and members have worked closely with State Environment Authorities over the past 15 years to develop, implement and maintain these important CCPs resource approvals – facilitating the safe and beneficial use of CCPs,” Mr Heidrich said. 

“That is, the Association over the past 28 years has facilitated investigations and important research with major institutions such as the University of Sydney, University of NSW, CSIRO et al, grounded on sound science.  Economic market opportunities leading to the increased utilisation of CCPs as valuable resources as part of the circular economy, rather than see them managed through traditional methods, i.e. emplaced into onsite ash dams, thus providing no resource efficiency opportunities are our priorities”.

“The safe use of CCPs, as valued resources, is well established with more than 6 million tonnes used annually in a range of applications, which is under-pinned by significant investment.  Globally the benefical use of CCPs is significant. More than 687 million tonnes was beneficially used in 2015[4] . For more than 30 years CCPs have been supplied for use in asphalt as mineral fillers, cement manufacture, concrete manufacture, road and embankment construction applications, plus other novel applications such as carpet manufacture. These end use applications are well established and have proven economic and social benefits.” Mr Heidrich said.

The use of CCPs as a direct replacement for natural resources used in construction has had numerous environmental benefits including: 

• The reduced usage of non-renewable quarry resources, fuels, limestone, sand and coal, as well as the environmental impacts associated with mining these natural resources;
• The lowering of emissions through replacing virgin raw materials with processed or partially processed materials such as CCPs; and 
• The reduction of some 20 million tonnes of GHGs since 1980’s resulting from the effective use of CCPs in concrete alone. 

Media enquires: 

Craig Heidrich
Ash Development Association of Australia
M: 0418 885 290
E: cheidrich@adaa.asn.au

[1]Financial Members List : http://www.adaa.asn.au/membership/current-members
[2]AGL Bayswater Power Station is not a current member
[3]Order:  https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/waste/rro14-coal-ash.pdf?la=en&hash=7222DC20531E7EDEE919CDDE7CFB7FA740430841; Exemption: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/waste/rre14-coal-ash.pdf?la=en&hash=469A8560691D504B542DF89497231A74FF709E19
[4]Heidrich et al,  Coal Combustion Products: Global Operating Environment, WOCA 2017