WINNING
Material is transported across from the quarry to the stockpiles.
AfriSam launched its energy efficiency drive
in 2000 when it embarked on Project Green
Cement, which resulted in the reduction
of the clinker content of cement and a
subsequent lowering of the total energy
required for manufacturing.
“By modernising our plants and
equipment, and implementing a variety of
efficiency and capacity upgrades, we have
managed to reduce our specific electrical
consumption per tonne of cementitious
material by 19% since 2000, which reduces
the overall cost per tonne of our cement.”
Meyer explains that after electricity, thermal
energy is AfriSam’s second-highest cost,
with coal for use at the Ulco plant being
trucked in from the Witbank area. “Coal is
both expensive and energy intensive, but to
convert limestone to cement you need a lot
of energy. Through our various upgrades,
we have managed to reduce our specific
thermal energy consumption per tonne of
cementitious material by 30% since 2000.”
In 2010, in an industry first, AfriSam
launched its Eco Building Cement, a move
which resulted in the lowering of its carbon
footprint to half that defined by the World
Resource Institute and the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development. It was
also the first company globally to introduce
a carbon footprint measurement system
on each and every cement product relative
to the world average. “Our manufacturing
process and products are aligned to our
environmental philosophy, and our advanced
Limestone, iron ore, shale, and coal are stockpiled for use in the cement
manufacturing process.
composite cements enables us to reduce our
CO 2 emissions while also reducing the energy
requirements for manufacturing those types
of products,” Meyer adds.
In recognition of its efforts to produce
more environmentally friendly cement,
AfriSam received the Nedbank Green Mining
Award in 2010, and the Mail & Guardian
Greening the Future Award in 2011 for its
emissions reduction and energy management
programmes. The following year, AfriSam
became the first cement company to pledge
support for Eskom’s R49-million campaign,
to demonstrate its commitment to the
global agenda of energy efficiency. In 2013,
the company’s Ulco plant received a National
QUARRY SA | NOVEMBER 2017 _ 17