Cement News tagged under: environment

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Playing its part in Paris

12 March 2018, Published under Cement News

In line with the UN’s Paris Agreement on climate change, HeidelbergCement has published its ‘Sustainability Commitments 2030’, which see the cement producer leading the development of carbon capture, utilisation and sequestration (CCUS) technologies for the cement industry. By Jan Theulen, HeidelbergCement, Germany. Figure 1: test facility for CCS at Brevik, Norway In November 2017 HeidelbergCement published its ‘Sustainability Commitments 2030’, reflecting the company’s environ...

Tanzania Portland Cement given ultimatum over dust emissions

08 March 2018, Published under Cement News

Tanzania Portland Cement Company Ltd (TPCCL) has been issued a two-month ultimatum from the government to improve its dust control or face a ban. The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice President's Office (Union and Environment), Alphaxard Kangi Lugola, said local residents in Dar es Salaam faced health concerns due to the dust emissions from the plant. "Having listened from both sides, I am now convinced that the dust problem is real. I am, therefore giving a two-month ultimatum for the ...

Turkey seeks alternatives

23 February 2018, Published under Cement News

The concept of a circular economy is growing in influence and as a result the cement production process has begun to evolve. As a large-scale cement producer, Turkey shows considerable potential for the adoption of this alternative economy.  Figure 1: the circular economy cycle Turkey has begun to adopt the concept of a circular economy, a waste-to-energy solution that is a high priority for European Union. The circular economy model is based on the principle that natural resour...

RDF production and utilisation in India

07 December 2017, Published under Cement News

The production of refuse-derived fuels (RDFs) from municipal solid waste (MSW) offers one solution to address the growing waste issue in countries with increasing populations such as India. At the same time, these RDFs enable the cement industry to substitute fossil fuels and reduce its CO2 emissions. By Palash Kumar Saha and Dr Kåre Helge Karstensen, SINTEF, Norway, and Kannan Vairavan and Vinoth Balakumar, CII-GBC, India. Input waste quality for RDF and compost production at Ramky E...

Insee Cement wins two green awards

16 November 2017, Published under Cement News

Insee Cement (Siam City Cement group) secured two prizes for fostering green production processes and a culture of environmental sustainability, at the Presidential Environmental Awards 2017. Insee Cement’s Ecocycle received a Bronze award in the solid waste management category and the Puttalam cement plant also was awarded the Bronze in the Chemical Industry Sector. Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd CEO, Nandana Ekanayake, said: "We are delighted that Insee has been recognised by the Centra...

Tyres: going full circle

09 November 2017, Published under Cement News

Contributing to the circular economy, an innovative tyre-burning initiative at PPC’s De Hoek plant in the Western Cape, South Africa, has successfully demonstrated the viability of burning waste tyres as an alternative to coal in cement production. The project not only reduces coal usage and NOx emissions but also decreases landfill requirements for waste tyres, achieving a positive environmental impact. By Johan Vorster, PPC, South Africa. PPC De Hoek's location and the socio-ec...

The restoration revolution

20 September 2017, Published under Cement News

While current environmental legislation expects the extractive industry to restore its abandoned mining areas back to their former use, it often falls short of detailed steps to achieve this goal. In the last few years, Cemex has been developing a geomorphological approach to ecological restoration at three clay quarries in Spain. By José María Gómez Díaz, Cemex, Spain. Aurora, one of three clay quarries owned by Cemex in Campredó, Tarragona, Spain (October 2015) The days of ext...

A zero waste solution

16 August 2017, Published under Cement News

The development of new alternative fuel (AF) processing and handling technology has enabled cement producers to improve their fuel substitution rates while providing municipal and other authorities with a sustainable, zero-waste option in the disposal of municipal solid wastes (MSWs). By Dirk Lechtenberg, MVW Lechtenberg, Germany. Figure 1: typical process flow for processing MSW into RDF In the early days of alternative fuel (AF) use in the cement industry, well-defined, mainly...

Cooling down refrigerants...in the kiln

21 June 2017, Published under Cement News

The safe disposal of hydrofluorocarbons, present in end-of-service refrigerants, is key in helping to prevent excessive levels of global warming in the future. Cement kilns provide one way of dealing with these harmful substances. Successfully implemented in Japan for over three decades, other Asian countries such as India and Indonesia are now following. By Dr Vincent Aloysius, INSEE Ecocycle Co Ltd, Thailand. Cement kilns provide a safe method to dispose of hydrofluorocarbons ...

Sustainable Primavera

13 June 2017, Published under Cement News

The construction and operation of cement plants carry the potential to have a profound impact on the local environment and communities. However, with a strategic approach that considers a cement producer’s return on social investment, they can be a force for good, bringing mutual benefits for the company and these communities. By Álvaro Lorenz, Votorantim Cimentos, Brazil. In June 2017 Votorantim Cimentos will be celebrating its first year of operation at the 1.2Mta Primavera plant...