The UK Quality Ash Association (UKQAA), the trade federation for the UK producers, marketers and users of fly ash and bottom ash arising from pulverised coal fired power stations has become an Affiliate Member of the Mineral Products Association (MPA), which represents the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. 

The agreement incorporates a range of planned collective activities leveraging the combined resources of the UKQAA and MPA to ensure that the United Kingdom maximises the potential of the extensive fly ash reserves to be found in single source deposits as a legacy of coal fired power production. There are well over 100 million tonnes of fly ash to be found in such deposits in defined boundaries within the UK and these have to potential to play a significant role in the future of the UK construction industry. Fly ash can be used in the production of blended cements and sustainable and durable concrete as well for key construction products such as aerated concrete blocks and grouts used for stabilisation of soils with poor-quality ground conditions. Without fly ash, there would be an additional demand of up to 1.5 million tonnes/year of sand for non-cementitious applications alone.

UKQAA Director, Nigel Cooke said:
 "Affiliation to the MPA has the full support of all our members who recognise the depth of expertise within the MPA – especially with respect to minerals planning, the development of standards, materials testing and an extensive network of strategic partners in both the public and private sectors. All of which will be critical in the acceptance of single source deposits of coal fired power station fly ash as future pozzolanic (cementitious) mineral reserves."

MPA Chief Executive, Nigel Jackson said:
 "We are delighted to have the UKQAA and its members as Affiliates of the MPA.  We look forward to increasingly close collaboration on our common objectives to improve the sustainability of key mineral products and maximising the effective use of recycled and secondary materials."

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