Aggregate Industries gets HVO-powered cement tanker

Commercial Motor
June 20, 2023

Construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries has taken delivery of the next generation of cement tanker, powered by a green bio-fuel.

The company operating in Coalville, Leicestershire, has deployed HVO-powered truck as part of its Lafarge Cement business, in collaboration with logistical partner Lomas Distribution.

The 30-tonne bulk tanker runs on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a member of the paraffinic fuel family and a sustainable substitute for mineral diesel. By running on HVO, the tanker achieves a reduction of up to 90% in greenhouse gas emissions and is derived from waste cooking and frying oil sourced from the food industry.

The newly added truck joins the fleet of 50 Lafarge Cement vehicles and will primarily operate from the Cauldon cement plant in the Staffordshire Moorlands, serving cement operations in the midlands and northwest regions. This deployment of alternative fuels, such as HVO, aligns with Aggregate Industries' Journey to Net Zero strategy with the company aiming to achieve net zero emissions before 2050.

Matt Owen, supply chain manager in Aggregate Industries’ cement division, said: “The benefits of using HVO are there for all to see. Being able to reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% is huge for us, alongside the reduction in things like nitrous oxide. Also, HVO is a direct drop-in replacement for diesel so easy to switch to. We are trialling the vehicle and will be monitoring and evaluating its performance and its emissions.

He added: “We are already using HVO in our loading shovels at our three cement dockside terminals at Glasgow, Ellesmere and Chatham and are planning to introduce more HVO fuelled vehicles over the year.”

The cement division has also recently taken an electric cement truck on trial working with Lomas.

Luke Olly, carbon and energy manager at Aggregate Industries, said: “This is a fantastic step forward as we look to accelerate our journey to net zero. Our aim as a company is to reduce unblended gas oil usage by more than 90% by 2035. HVO offers us one of a number of opportunities to do this. It is circular in nature as it starts out as raw material derived from plants and we are effectively re-using waste after it has been used in the food industry. We have plans to increase alternative ways to fuel our vehicles and plant equipment whether that is through HVO, electric or hydrogen and we look forward to rolling these out across the business over the coming years.”

  • For all the latest news and information dedicated to the decarbonisation of the commercial vehicle and road freight sector, check out our sister website FreightCarbonZero.com

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