Local company considers more carbon efficient freight transport

Date: 2/3/2010

A trial shipment from Drax Power Station on the Yorkshire River Ouse has recently taken place, according to a local news report.

A 1,200-tonnes trial shipment of Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) has made its way from the jetty of Drax to Ireland and may lead the way for more permanent shipping from the coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire.

In partnership with ash sales agent Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products and specialist bulk handling company TW Logistics, Drax has only recently started using alternate modes of transport.

Drax produces about 1.4 million tonnes of PFA a year. It is used for a range of purposes, including manufacturing concrete products, building blocks and structural fill.

Normally, these shipments would be transported on the road network and would require many lorry loads. Shipping via water is a more carbon efficient way of transporting freight and would save the road network around 40 lorry loads.