BENEFICIATION
RDF plant situated at the Interwaste Germiston depot.
Interwaste the RDF is important to guarantee a product consistent in quality.
Secondly, the chlorine content of the RDF could have an effect on the process. If the chlorine content exceeds 1.5 %, it is at risk of evaporation and condensing of chlorine gas in the system, which over time could weaken the refractory bricks in the cement kiln.
Chlorine content may also affect the quality of the cement, or intensify corrosion of steel rebar in concrete structures. From a production perspective, producers need to strike a balance between the amount of chlorine and Sulphur in the process.
Long-term financial gains
Despite standard new technology challenges, the economic and environmental benefits of using waste derived alterntive fuels to
replace fossil fuels in cement plants are vast. Considering global climate change discourse and how fast Europe is moving, it is not a case of‘ if’, but rather‘ when’ to convert to cleaner sources of fuel.
Financially, the impact is two-fold: firstly, RDF minimises the direct cost of energy through a cheaper fuel source. Secondly, carbon tax legislation could provide massive economic gains.
“ Using a fuel that is less than the base price for coal automatically reduces the direct cost of energy. If the South African government passes the carbon tax bill, cement producers will also be able to claim back for lower emissions. For every tonne of coal that you substitute with RDF, producers reduce their CO 2 emissions by 1.5 tonnes. We essentially provide our customers with a solution to reduce operational expenses, while acting responsibly towards the environment,” Young concludes.
Pressure to cut emissions is mounting both globally and locally, and the RDF facility presents an alternative for South African cement producers to scrutinise their current processes and adopt greener operational practice.
As with any innovation, supply and demand speaks volumes. In this case, quite literally. To produce RDF at economically viable quantities, the plant requires high volumes of waste set off against stable demand from cement kilns.
External factors such as carbon tax and landfill legislation, coupled with cement producers’ internal willingness to drive plant conversions, will dictate the success of RDF uptake in South Africa. n
QUARRY SA | JANUARY 2017 _ 25