Gas pipeline to boost UK refractory maker

Newhaven, UK – DSF Refractories and Minerals Ltd, which supplies refractory materials to the carbon black industry, is to install a 12.3km natural gas pipeline to raise the competitiveness of its UK site.

The £2.8-million project is designed to increase the efficiency and reduce emissions of the Newhaven, Derbyshire-based operation

New internal pipework will be constructed to take the gas from the roadside meters to the kilns and other equipment. New burners suitable for natural gas will then be installed on the kilns, driers and heaters that currently use LPG or fuel oil.

The project will reduce production costs and ‘carbon’ emissions and will safeguard the 108 jobs and create 15 more, as the pipeline is installed.

“This is a game changing project allowing us to compete on a level playing field against our European competition in worldwide export markets,” said Phil Bearn, DSF finance director.

DSF supplies, worldwide, to carbon black producers and other high-temperature process industries including iron & steel and cement as well as for incinerators, brick and ceramic kilns.

The investment is being backed by industry support agency D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, which is putting up with a £280,000 grant under a Regional Growth Fund scheme.