The Department of Territory and Sustainability of the Generalitat and Ciment Català have drawn up a protocol for determining the ammonia target in cement factories in Catalonia, which has been published as Annex IV of the Guide for the application of the Best Available Techniques in the sector. This initiative has been developed within the framework of the III Voluntary Agreement signed between the Catalan administration and the employers of the cement industry, an agreement aimed at increasing the benefits and the level of environmental protection of Catalan factories. Previously, the protocol for evaluating compliance with the emission limit associated with a virtual focus of a cement factory had already been published as Annex III of the Guide.

The protocol for determining the ammonia target in cement factories in Catalonia has been carried out as a necessary step to be able to correctly assess the application of BAT 19 established in Implementing Decision 2013/163 / EU, of March 26, by which establishes the conclusions on the best available techniques (BAT) for the manufacture of cement, lime and magnesium oxides.

According to Directive 2010/75 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control), the best available techniques are the most effective and advanced stage of development of activities and its operating modalities, which demonstrate the practical capacity of certain techniques to form the basis of the emission limit values ​​and other conditions of the permit aimed at avoiding or, when not practicable, reducing emissions and the impact on the whole of the environment.

The best available techniques (BAT), then, are the most environmentally friendly way known to carry out an activity, taking into account that the cost for the companies that have to use them is within reasonable limits.

The Guide for the application of the Best Available Techniques in the cement sector in Catalonia was published in 2016, and was the first of 13 works of this nature promoted so far by the Generalitat.