UK set to leverage 100 million mt of stored fly ash for sustainable cement production

The UK Quality Ash Association has announced plans to use over 100 million mt of fly ash stored from decades of coal production to support sustainability in the cement and concrete sector.

The UK currently relies heavily on imported supplementary cementitious materials. While the UK does produce its own SCMs from its blast furnace in Scunthorpe, its import dependency could reach 100% if this blast furnace shuts down.

However, the substantial fly ash reserves in the UK could significantly reduce these risks, according to the statement.

Drax Group signed a 20-year agreement with Power Minerals in March to develop a factory in Yorkshire. The factory is expected to handle millions of tons of fly ash as SCMs, with production anticipated to begin by the end of 2026.

Titan Group separately announced plans in July to invest in a facility at the former Fiddler's Ferry site in Cheshire. The facility will use proprietary technology to process stored fly ash, with operations expected to start in 2027.

Each ton of fly ash used in place of cement can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 760 kg and save 1.6 mt of raw materials. The projects in Yorkshire and Cheshire are projected to prevent around 500,000 mt/year of emissions, the UKQAA said.

"Following significant investment in testing, we're now in a position to demonstrate to the government that we have solutions which fit in with its ambitions for a low-carbon economy," said UKQAA Director Nigel Cooke.

Cooke urged the government to expedite approval processes to transform potential into reality.

"We have the designs, the investment, and the resource – but planning delays are the single biggest barrier to getting started," Cooke said. "Every extra study or appeal adds months, sometimes years, and only the largest companies can afford to wait."

The UK government's infrastructure strategy emphasizes large-scale projects that prioritize domestic industry and carbon reduction, positioning the use of SCM from fly ash as a dual solution to reduce emissions and secure the construction industry's supply chain.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CEMDEX Turkey at $55/mt FOB on Aug. 21