Michelin UK exits tyre-burning JV

ERJ staff report (DS)

Staffordshire, UK -- Lafarge Cement UK and Michelin Tyre plc said their joint-venture, Sapphire Energy Recovery Ltd, has now become solely owned by Lafarge. Set up in 2001, Sapphire offers converts used tyres in the UK into a waste-derived fuel for the cement industry.

In a statement, Lafarge said, "The decision to move Sapphire to sole ownership was made once the business had successfully achieved its objective of developing a healthy and viable end-of-life process for used tyres, by creating a sustainable market benefiting both tyre manufacturers and cement producers."

Lafarge said, "Major investments have been made by Sapphire in developing reliable collection and processing capacity for used tyres in the UK, which now has a sustainable and competitive market for end of life tyres. Sapphire currently processes over 16 million tyres a year. Lafarge Cement alone consumed over 75,000 tonnes of waste tyres in 2008, compared to 29,000 in 2000."

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Press release from Lafarge