It is with some hope for the future that ‘The Neighbours of the Factory’, who have suffered from terrible smells, noise and poor air quality for far too long now, feel nearer to being able to breathe clean air at last.
Amorim own the factory in Vale de Lama, Silves which produces cork insulation boards. In the quarterly meeting, organised by Silves Camara, Amorim showed more commitment to introducing a number of changes, with the result being a cleaner factory. The progress of the changes to the factory will be followed closely by all concerned.
On July 11, 2024, the 12th quarterly meeting was held to follow up and monitor the work to correct the environmental anomalies at the factory of Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) in Vale de Lama, Silves. The meeting was held at Silves Town Hall and was attended by Councillor Maxime Sousa Bispo and representatives of CCDR-Algarve, the Pestana group and the “Neighbours of the Factory” Residents' Committee.
Meeting Bulletin
Amorim Cork Insulation informed us about the re-organisation of Amorim Corticeira in 2024. The 3 business units (BU) of Cork Composite, Cork Flooring and Cork Insulation will be merged into 1 BU, called Amorim Cork Solutions, under new leadership.
Based on the noise control plan for the entire factory (developed by a company specialising in noise), Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) has presented a project to implement soundproofing measures, the aim of which is to encapsulate and soundproof all the machinery, equipment and pipes inside the factory. The first phase of the work is due to be completed by 31 December 2024 and will focus on the main equipment, such as the crusher, boiler, autoclave and sawmill, among others, with the aim of ensuring compliance with the noise levels imposed by legislation. The second phase of work is due to take place between 2025 and 2026, and will involve carrying out minor, but no less important, work, as it will make it possible to gradually reduce noise levels with the aim of going further than required by law.
With regard to the elimination of white fumes, the plans presented by Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) reflect the same work completion dates already presented at the last meeting, thus increasing the level of trust placed by all participants in this process.
The pre-filter (phase 1) is not delivering the results expected by all parties. Although this equipment is allegedly in operation, the truth is that a lot of white smoke is still being emitted into the atmosphere, which creates environmental nuisance. Even so, the rule remains that when the pre-filter doesn't work, the factory's operations must be suspended.
In view of the failure of phase 1, Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) has moved ahead with the design, construction and implementation of the RTO filter, corresponding to phase 2, which is still scheduled for completion in August 2025. The project for the new RTO has already been designed and the contract for its manufacturing should be awarded by 15 September 2024. It is therefore expected that manufacture and assembly of the equipment will begin in October 2024.
The RTO filter is a large box that will be transported to Silves in parts, assembled inside the plant from the 2nd quarter of 2025 and connected to the plant's systems during the summer of 2025. The RTO is scheduled to start operating in August 2025. That's the moment everyone is looking forward, to no longer seeing and smelling the white smoke for 99%.
The “Neighbours of the factory”, for their part, have expressed their discontent and frustration with the excessive delay in correcting the plant's anomalies. Solutions are implemented slowly and there is great disappointment at the permanence of the white smoke and the black particles that continue to pollute their properties. As a result, the level of confidence in Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) is falling dramatically. In addition, poor financial results in 2023, as well as in the first quarter of 2024, have neighbours worried about the future of the factory and its ability to resolve existing anomalies.
‘The factory's neighbours’ explained that they are prepared to take tougher legal action if the results are not satisfactory by the end of 2024, and are not ruling out legal action.
Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) proposed that the new CEO of Amorim Cork Solutions attend the next quarterly meeting in November 2024, with the aim of increasing the level of trust among all the parties involved and deepening the levels of commitment among all. All the participants in the meeting agreed with this proposal.
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 factory of Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) in Vale da Lama, Silves, with a consequent reduction in the pollution caused by its operation, and to improve the relationship between ACI and the surrounding population, contributing to a more integrated and participatory community in resolving matters of public interest in the environmental field.
