Railton alternative fuel increase program

Railton alternative fuel increase program is an Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction project located at the Cement Australia facility in Railton, approximately 20km inland from Devonport on the northwest coast of Tasmania. It was registered in August 2022 and operates within a localized industrial facility, so it does not report a traditional land area size.

Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction projects involve reducing energy and fuel emissions by changing the mix of energy sources used, or by modifying, replacing, and upgrading equipment to operate more efficiently.

The Railton region is known for heavy industry, including limestone mining, alongside commercial forestry and broadacre agriculture. The area is considered high rainfall with a cool-temperate climate, and the surrounding agricultural soils are generally deep, well-structured red basalts known as Ferrosols.

This project was set up to perform a major upgrade to the century-old Railton facility's cement kiln, substituting traditional coal with alternative fuel sources. By incorporating sustainable wood waste (biomass) and shredded used car tyres, the program aims to reduce the plant's coal consumption by 35%. Supported by a $52 million federal funding boost, these upgrades are expected to cut carbon emissions by 107,000 tonnes per year, provide jobs, and help divert significant volumes of industrial waste from local landfills.