Sustainability: African priorities and affordability

CemWeek and Prescon recently had a chat with Mr. Roland Hunziker from the WBCSD about the some of the trade-offs facing African cement manufacturers as they consider sustainable development initiatives. Much is happening on the continent and a host of new projects may lead to Africa having one of the most sustainable industries ÔÇô but clearly there is work ahead.

Mr. Hunziker will be a featured speaker in the upcoming conference ÔÇ£Environmental Cement Africa Conference Cape Town 2010ÔÇØ on April 20 and 21, 2010, in Cape Town, South Africa.

CemWeek: What should be the immediate environmental priorities for Africa's cement companies?

Roland Hunziker: The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will remain a key focus for cement companies worldwide. As most African economies continue on a growth path, cement demand will drive further investment in new cement production facilities. Cement companies will focus on installing best available technology in new plants, which will increase thermal and electric efficiency, and retrofit energy efficient equipment where economically viable.

The CSI's database on global energy data (GNR) shows that heat consumption in cement plants in Africa and the Middle East covered by the database decreased by 17% between 1990 and 2007, which places today's average heat consumption at a level comparable with Europe and South America (see chart below).

Further improvements in efficiency will need to be coupled with increased substitution of conventional fossil fuels by alternative fuels in the clinker combustion process. The IEA-CSI Cement Technology Roadmap 2009 estimates that the share of alternative fuel use in Africa and the Middle East (at below 2% in 2007) will increase to 11% of the fuel mix by 2015 and to 33% by 2050.

 

Another important area cement companies can tackle is the rehabilitation of quarries to protect and enhance biodiversity. During or after extraction of limestone, opportunities arise to rehabilitate the area and ensure the biodiversity is maintained or even enhanced. The business case for quarry rehabilitation is clear: companies obtain permits to operate only when they demonstrate their commitment to rehabilitation.

 

 

CW: What are some of the more novel projects in the sustainable development realm that cement companies in Africa have embarked on?

RH: CSI member companies are actively pursuing opportunities to replace conventional fossil fuels with alternative fuels and biomass. By-products from domestic, industrial, or agricultural sources are ideal substitutes. As integral part of the waste management infrastructure cement kilns can provide energy and materials recovery, offering safe disposal options for many of society's wastes.

A partnership between Holcim and GTZ developed guidelines for co-processing of waste materials in cement production; these have now been translated into national guidelines for South Africa, as a first case in Africa.

In Mozambique, Cimentos de Moçambique (Cimpor) was able to obtain carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to switch from coal to natural gas for heating the kiln. With regards to the protection of biodiversity, Lafarge in partnership with WWF rehabilitated its former Bamburi quarry near Mombasa, Kenya, into a natural reserve, which today houses an important number of reintroduced indigenous species and has become a center for tourism and other economic activities.

 

CW: In the near term, can Africa realistically afford environmental achievements similar to those in the developed markets?"

RH: In the cement sector, new greenfield investments deploy the most advanced state-of-the-art technologies. In this sense, with a growing stock of new production facilities in the future, Africa will be home to the most efficient cement plants.

Further environmental achievements will depend on supporting public policy, e.g. for waste management systems, which is no different from other regions in the world. Companies will have to earn their license to operate no matter whether they operate in Africa or any other parts of the world.

 

CW: Looks like Africa is some senses has the possibility of leapfrogging the technology curve and push sustainable development. We hope the vision pans out and that sustainable development stays part of the implementation as the sector expands.

 

 

The Environmental Cement Africa Conference Cape Town 2010 brings together the environmental leaders in African cement, international and African environmental organizations and African policy-makers under one roof to discuss the key challenges & issues in the African cement industry.

Taking place at Mount Nelson Hotel on 20th & 21st April 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa, the conference highlights key speakers from Lafarge, PPC, Afrisam, UNEP, Suez Cement Company, Eritrean Government, MVW Lechtenberg, Trilogy Partners and WBCSD, with an exciting agenda that focuses on waste management policy, carbon management models, alternative fuel sourcing, logistical challenges and investment opportunities important to players in the African cement industry.

Click here for more information.