AFRICAN BUZZ
SOUTH AFRICA:
AFRISAM CUTS CARBON
FOOTPRINT
“We are probably South Africa’s
leading company in our understanding
and application of extenders in
cement,” says Meyer. “This field
holds great scope for creating more
environmentally friendly cements,
but requires considerable technical
expertise,” he says.
AfriSam, a South African supplier of construction material, has reduced its
C0 2 emissions by 35%. But this, according to Hannes Meyer, cementitious
executive at AfriSam, is not where it ends.
According to Meyer, the company
continues to cut the carbon footprint
of its cement. Efforts focus on using
less energy in the production of clinker,
while making more use of extenders
like fly-ash and slag.
Hannes Meyer, cementitious
executive at AfriSam.
Meyer adds that AfriSam invests
constantly in energy saving strategies
at its cement plants. Since 1990, it has achieved a cumulative reduction of
31% of cement-specific thermal consumption, measured in megajoules per
tonne of cement.
Meyer highlighted the potential of the new carbon tax – in force from 1 June
2019 – to incentivise energy-saving innovation.
“The depressed state of the economy has dampened many of industry’s
good ideas, and if carbon tax revenues could cover industry incentives, the
resulting innovations would have a range of positive spin-offs. Apart from
easing demand on Eskom’s grid, this would also contribute toward the
country’s Paris Agreement obligations,” says Meyer.
AfriSam's Dudfield Cement operation in Lichtenburg, North West Province.
10
African Mining September 2019
AfriSam was South Africa’s first cement manufacturer to equip all its kilns
with bag filters. This brought emissions to below even the European
standard of 30 mg/m 3 .
www. africanmining.co.za