The WBCSD-CSI identified energy as a key material risk to be addressed by the cement industry. This is particularly relevant to cement manufacturers in South Africa at a time when the country is facing critical electrical energy shortages and increasing electricity and coal tariffs. As the cement manufacturing process is thermally energy intensive, the impact of these issues has been felt by the CCSA members.
Electricity usage in cement
Heat consumption in clinker production
Our members have reported the following energy consumption: electricity used in cement production and heat consumption in clinker production (both as reported as per WBCSD-CSI requirements).
The figures indicate a reduction in the use of electricity per tonne of cement produced and a steady decrease in heat consumption per tonne of clinker produced.
Replacing coal with secondary materials for energy in production processes assists in carbon emission reductions. Due to variances in data capture and reporting, the coal replacement percentage depicted below should not be interpreted as representative of the CCSA but as indication of substitution taking place amongst some of the members.
Table 3: Coal substitution rate