Over 250 delegates gathered in the Maksoud Plaza Hotel, São Paulo, Brazil, for the 7th Brazilian Conference on Portland Cement (CBCi) between 20-22 June 2016. The conference highlighted Brazil’s commitment to COP21 and the progress the cement industry has made in helping the country work towards achieving its climate goals.
Over 250 delegates visited the 7th Brazilian Conference on Portland Cement in São Paulo, Brazil
Brazil’s cement industry is the largest in Latin America with a cement capacity of 93Mta, installed in 61 integrated plants, 34 grinding units and three mixed works. This production is owned by 17 integrated groups and six grinding companies. Last year it produced 64.5Mt of cement, down from 71.3Mt the previous year in line with a 10 per cent contraction of the domestic market, where demand fell to 64.9Mt.
Impact of climate change goals
SNIC's José Otávio de Carvalho shared
his vision of the way forward for
the cement industry in Brazil
Following the official opening by Renato José Giusti, president, and Eng Mario Wiliam Esper, of the ABCP, the Brazilian Portland cement association, the central topic presented at the CBCi conference was climate change and its impact on the Brazilian cement industry. Professor José Goldemberg of FAPESPA started the proceedings outlining climate change, greenhouse gases and the country’s COP21 commitments before moving on to their impact on the country’s cement sector.
José Otávio de Carvalho of SNIC, the country’s cement producers’ association, provided delegates with an insight into fuel use in the Brazilian cement sector and the measures taken to date to limit oil use. He stressed the importance of energy efficiency, alternative fuels and a lower clinker factor (currently 67 per cent in Brazil) to achieve reduced CO2 emissions.He also shared his vision of the cement industry in a climate change scenario and how the sector is currently working together with universities and technological centres on a roadmap to chart the way forward. Following the recent signing of an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), global collaboration is also at hand. In Latin America the IFC invested US$225m in cement projects during 2015. Michel Folliet of the IFC highlighted the organisation’s experiences in cement projects and outlined its three businesses: investment services, advisory services and asset management. He explained steps to be undertaken in helping the cement industry to become more sustainable.
Maria José Garcia of FICEM, Colombia,
provided an insight into co-processing
in Latin America's cement kilns
Philippe Fonta of the WBCSD’s CSI put the subject in a global context during his presentation “Results of COP21 negotiations in Paris and its effect on the global cement and concrete industry” and highlighted the worldwide socio-economic impact of climate change. In terms of the world economy, the need to decarbonise was highlighted – a particular challenge for the cement industry, which is required to adopt more sustainable cement production methods and reduce its CO2 emissions by 1Gt by 2030, ie scale up its current reduction efforts by 20-25 per cent in the run-up to 2030.
Reducing carbon emissions
The conference was also home to a 33-stand exhibition
where delegates could obtain more information
from a range of equipment suppliers
The need for sustainable cement production to limit climate change and CO2 emissions was also reflected in a series of technical presentations. To lower fuel-related carbon emissions, steps are being taken to reduce the use of fossil fuels in favour of alternative options to improve thermal energy efficiency. The latest developments in co-processing in the Latin American cement industry were highlighted by Maria José Garcia, FICEM, Colombia. She called for a legislative framework, financial stimuli and greater public awareness of the benefits of such practices in Latin America.
A decrease in electrical power consumption is mainly pursued through advances in grinding technology. Papers by thyssenkrupp about its Polycom mill, Loesche’s large vertical roller mills (VRMs), FLSmidth’s contribution regarding the VRM at Brennand Cimentos as well as WR Grace’s presentation regarding grinding additives were some examples of technology that increases grinding efficiency and helps to reduce power consumption.
A further way to improve energy use can be found in waste heat recovery, the subject of the “Transforming waste into value” paper by Q U Tiezheng, Sinoma Energy Conservation, China.
José Goldemberg of FAPESPA set the
scene, explaining Brazil's COP21
commitments and the role of
the country's cement industry
The lowering of the clinker factor, a key element in reducing raw material- and process-related carbon emissions, was addressed by a series of papers, including “Supplementary cementitious materials as clinker substitutes” by Arnaldo Forti Battagin of the ABCP and the “Use of slags as constituents of cements produced by Votorantim Cimentos in Brazil” by Silva RSS Vieira and Eustaquio Machado of Brazil’s leading producer.
In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, methods to capture, store and use carbon were also discussed during a presentation given by Sergio Paca, São Paulo University, as part of the Brazil Roadmap Project.
Further food for thought
Project experience was also key to providing participants with an insight in how to realise their energy-efficient production targets. For example, Luiz Eduardo Taliberti of Margem and Eduardo Ribeiro da Silva of FLSmidth presented Margem’s new 3000tpd plant in Adrianopolis.
A series of poster sessions provided an additional opportunity to gain knowledge on a variety of subjects while a 33-stand exhibition enabled delegates to ask a wide range of equipment manufacturers further questions referring to their cement plants.
The closing ceremony on Wednesday, 22 June concluded a successful 7th CBCi.
Article first published in International Cement Review, August 2016.
