Displaying items by tag: circular economy

Taiwan: Asia Cement Corporation tested its waste wind turbine blade processing capacities using 12t of blades earlier in November 2023. The cement producer had previously processed 9t of waste turbine blades for use in its plants up to the end of October 2023. Asia Cement Corporation says that the waste consists of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP), which is 60% silicon dioxide, calcium oxide and aluminium oxide and 40% polyester. The polyester can replace fossil fuels as alternative fuel (AF) for cement plants, while the other chemical compounds can serve as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).

Uganda: Hima Cement has awarded a contract to Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda to supply waste plastics for use as alternative fuel (AF) at the cement producer’s plant in Kasese. Under the contract, Holcim subsidiary Geocycle will collect and process the waste.

PML Daily News has reported that Hima Cement CEO Jean-Michel Pons said “As part of our decarbonisation and circular economy approach, we utilise materials at the end of their lifecycle as AF, such as industrial wastes like plastics and agricultural wastes like biomass, thus reducing the carbon intensity of our cement, while offering a unique solution to waste challenges.”

El Salvador: Geocycle has partnered with renewables company AES El Salvador to process end-of-life solar panels for use as fuel in cement production. The partners say that this will ensure circularity for all materials used in supplying El Salvador with renewable energy.

AES El Salvador said “AES applies circularity throughout the value chain of its solar plants, from the generation of renewable energy to the proper management of waste, and ensures that the waste produced throughout its cycle serves as raw material for other products and services. By adopting these principles, it contributes to the sustainable development of the country and promotes a cleaner, greener and carbon-free future for future generations.”

Nigeria: Dangote Cement plans to launch a fleet of 100 trucks to convey alternative fuel (AF) to its Ibese cement plant. The Daily Independent newspaper has reported that the producer expects the fleet to increase the plant’s supply of AF by 50%. The vehicles will collect waste biomass from local communities. Dangote Cement has also donated 100,000 100kg bags to facilitate collections.

Canada: Lafarge Canada will receive a supply of 300t/yr of sewage sludge solids from Capital Regional District (CRD) to mix in topsoil used in rehabilitation at its former Cassidy aggregates quarry in British Columbia. The Victoria Times Colonist newspaper has reported that CRD had held a supply contract to provide sewage sludge solids to Lafarge Canada for use as alternative fuel (AF) at its Richmond cement plant. The cement plant suspended its operations for ‘most of 2022’ and throughout the first five months of 2023. British Columbian law requires sewage sludge solids to be used in beneficial applications.

The district council of CRD says that it expects the Richmond cement plant to resume receiving deliveries of its sewage sludge solids in mid-June 2023.

India: Shree cement has awarded the municipal authorities of Balodabazar-Bhatapara District, Chhattisgarh, a contract to supply 10t/day of cow dung to its Raipur cement plant. The Pioneer newspaper has reported that collection takes place across 16 villages within a 15km radius of the plant. The plant will use dung as alternative fuel (AF) in its cement production.

Nigeria: Dangote Cement plans to upgrade its Ibese cement plant in order to use biofuels in its cement production. The Nigerian Guardian newspaper has reported that the plant will receive a pneumatic feeding system for the kiln of its Line 2. Dangote Cement plans to use palm kernel shells, rice husks, coconut shells and sugarcane bagasse, along with sawdust. The producer says that this will reduce its CO₂ emissions by 5.2% and help to divert local agricultural waste from incineration.

Project head Sumaila Muhammed said “We carried out alternative fuel resource mapping within our host communities. We decided to collect these wastes and convert them into valuable energy resources as smokeless, renewable biofuel."

Philippines: Cemex Philippines has secured a contract with Manila Water Company for the supply of biosolids from sewage processing for use as alternative fuel (AF). Cemex Philippines has already taken receipt of 10t of biosolids at its Antipolo cement plant in Luzon's Calabarzon Region.

Cemex Philippines’ sustainability and public affairs director Christer Gaudiano said “As pioneers of the use of biosolids as AF in the country, we have just signed what will now create the series of significant steps towards making circular economy a reality."

Sustainability initiatives form one arm of Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum's Golden Arrow award for good management, which Cemex Philippines won for the second time on 9 February 2023.

Philippines: Holcim Philippines says that it has successfully processed its millionth tonne of waste into alternative fuel (AF) for use in its cement production. BusinessWorld News has reported that the cement producer reached this circular economy milestone in partnership with 35 different municipal authorities.

Holcim Philippines CEO Horia-Ciprian Adrian said "Our success in reusing discarded materials is further reducing our consumption of natural resources and carbon footprint. This also enables us to help industries and communities achieve their zero waste objectives."

Philippines: CRH subsidiary Republic Cement and its waste management subsidiary Ecoloop are seeking to establish partnerships with 'sustainability-minded' organisations. BusinessWorld News has reported that Republic Cement and Ecoloop process waste for 12 private companies and 30 local government units. Philippines law will require that large organisations recover 80% of their plastic packaging waste by 2030. For 2023, the minimum is 20%.

Ecoloop managing director Angela Edralin-Valencia said “Our goal is to make our cement a greener and more environmentally friendly product. Our ambition is to replace 50% of our fuel consumption with alternative fuel." She added "A lot of investments have to be put in place from our end to get to that number, but we are still reviewing our options.”