Track: Operations Management

Abstract

The continued increase in economies in most developing countries is associated with the requirements for construction materials such as cement. Globally, the production of cement in year 2030 is expected to increase to level that is 5 times year 1990, which is close to about 5 billion tones. Manufacturing of cement is associated with emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) during the clinker production process stage. There is further expectation that the cement industry is most probable to exceed the total amount of emissions of CO₂ of the EU. The industry in then under pressure to deploy strategies aimed at reduction of carbon dioxide and South African cannot afford to be left behind in reducing the CO₂ emission levels. Utilization of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) (fly ash, GGBFS and limestone) has been proven as one of strategic levers in manufacturing of cement at lower CO₂ emissions. In order to assess the South African industry implement of this strategy, the types of cement being offered as guided by SANS 5097-1 2013 can be evaluated with respect to product offering in terms of the formulation using raw materials in the manufacturing process. The South African cement industry indicated to have 7 manufacturers that have integrated plants for producing cement thus associated with clinker production and 10 cement producers who manufacture cement by commencing the manufacturing process at the blending process stage.  Based on the market survey for the cement types being supplied in the market, the product offering ranged from CEM I, CEM IV and CEM V which made use of fly ash, GGBFS and limes for reduction of clinker factor. The percentage clinker substitution is as high as in the range of 6 to 55. This indicated a potential CO₂ reduction of between 0.846 ton and 0.405 ton per 0.94 ton and 0.45 ton of clinker utilized in producing the cement respectively. Although utilization of SCMs alone cannot be enough to reduce the emissions to 100% acceptable limits, the industry was advised to look at potential decarbonization options such as decarbonization of the heat of burning through and Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) as additional CO₂ reduction strategies.