U.S.A: Plan for TITAN cement plant called off

Byszheng

Updated 2016-03-11

Titan America LLC said they no longer have plans to build a plant in New Hanover County.

According to the news release, they cite economics as a reason they no longer plan to build the cement plant. Company leaders said the supply and demand don’t support the cost of building a new plant.

“Our decision to suspend construction on the cement plant in Castle Hayne is driven by basic project economics,” said Bill Zarkalis, Titan America’s CEO. “The overall risk profile of the project has worsened as new coastal capacity in North Carolina could be vulnerable to cement imports, considering the strong US dollar, the global cement supply situation and low ocean freight costs.”

Many were concerned about the environmental affects like air quality the plant would have in the area.

Mike Giles, a coastal advocate with the North Carolina Coastal Federation, said they have been working hard to stop this project from moving forward.

“Well this is culmination of almost 8 years of a constant battle, and it’s a culmination because citizens got involved,” said Giles.

Giles said their fight doesn’t end there, he said Titan has an air permit. He they want to see that permit rescinded.

We received a statement from an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center who said they also support the decision to stop the project.

“The citizens of New Hanover and Pender counties can now breathe easier with the threat of Titan’s toxic air pollution now gone,” said Geoff Gisler, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center who represents the N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Fear River Watch, PenderWatch & Conservancy, and Sierra Club in legal challenges to the state permit of harmful air pollutants from the proposed facility.

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