Application of "Best Available Techniques" (BAT) in the German cement industry

The European IPPC Directive (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) w as adopted in 1996. The core of this directive is the "Best Available Techn iques" (BAT) to be used for protection of the environment which, after adop tion of the directive into national law, must be taken into account by lice nsing authorities when specifying emission limits. The cement industry is o ne of the first branches of industry for which a BAT document has been prep ared. However; the BAT associated emission levels described in it cannot, i n the view of the cement industry, be regarded as generally applicable. The BAT emission levels for dust and SO2 are, in the opinion of the German cem ent industry, to be regarded as realistic for appropriate layouts, but the data for nitrogen oxides are not acceptable. Investigations by the Research Institute of the Cement Industry have shown that a BAT associated emission level of 200 to 500 mg/m(3) for NOx regardless of the particular plant tec hnology is not justifiable.