On the 15th of December 2023, the 10th quarterly meeting was held to follow up and monitor the work to correct environmental anomalies at the Corticeira Amorim factory in Vale de Lama, Silves. Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) hosted the meeting at the factory premises, which was attended by Councillor Maxime Sousa Bispo and representatives of CCDR- Algarve, the Pestana group and the Residents' Committee “Vizinhos da Fabrica”.
After analysing the results of the phase 2 prototype, ACI realised that the application of a catalyst system was not the ideal solution for eliminating white fumes (Suberin). Internal meetings and design reviews with the Element 6 engineering company led to the decision to change the design to an RTO system. This decision in fact means a delay in the completion of phase 2 into 2025.
The residents committee “Vizinhos da Fabrica” cannot understand the delay. The frustration is growing with the neighbouring population about ACI management not capable of dealing with this problem for so many years. The people have to suffer another suffocating summer and what is next?
According to ACI, the phase 1 pre-filter is producing the expected results. The factory's general manager, Carlos Manuel Oliveira, announced that the factory's management maintains the order to suspend or stop the cork block production process when the pre-filter is not working properly. ACI's expectation was to reduce the level of white smoke by 80 per cent. Unfortunately, the ICA is unable to clarify how effective the pre-filter is until new analyses of the particles in the chimney gases are carried out in 2024.
ACI continues to work on the acoustic insulation of the factory's facilities. On the north-west side of the factory, various pieces of industrial equipment and machinery will receive steel boxes, lined with cork insulation on the inside. Similarly, several ducts are being insulated with rock wool and metal sheets.
ACI continued its noise reduction work on the west side of the factory. ACI has designed a building to soundproof the noise coming from the crusher. The urban planning licence for this building should be granted at the beginning of next year, as well as the issue of the corresponding works licence. Alterations to the cork storage building are almost complete to accommodate the silent operation of the Trommel. The building, which has not yet been soundproofed or acoustically insulated, is to be completely enclosed with masonry and will be fitted with electrically operated doors. These ongoing measures are intended to considerably reduce the noise from the Trommel's operation, as well as the noise from other equipment and vehicles supporting its operation.
Construction work on the crusher's encapsulation building is due to start at the beginning of 2024. This building will make it possible to reduce the noise from the operation of the crusher, where the cork is cut into small pieces. The 3 machines on the east side of the crusher building will receive large acoustic boxes, which will be completed in January. This work will be followed by the acoustic upgrade of the current crusher building, with improved insulation for the roof and doors. In the meantime, acoustic tests will be carried out regularly to gauge the results of the work.
The restriction on the factory's opening hours imposed by Silves Town Council will be maintained. The complete factory will stop to work from 11.59pm on Friday: until 4am on Monday morning for the caldera, until 8am on Monday morning for the autoclave, until 8am on Monday morning for the rest of the factory.
Comments from the neighbouring population is that they cannot understand that Acoustic Insulation is the speciality of Amorim Cork Insulation and they are having so much trouble in acoustically insulating their factory.
The "Factory Neighbours" held a meeting with CCDR-Algarve in November 2023 to address the high levels of fine particles, defined as PM10, in the vicinity of the factory. The CCDR-Algarve said it is raising budgets to carry out tests outside the factory in 2024, in each wind direction, for a period of one year.
We would all like to thank the permanent municipal executive of Silves Town Council for their support and commitment in carrying out this participatory process, which aims to correct the environmental anomalies of the Corticeira Amorim factory in Vale da Lama, Silves, with the consequent reduction in the pollution caused by its operation, and to improve the relationship between ACI and the neighbouring population, contributing to a more integrated and participatory community in resolving matters of public interest in the environmental field.
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