Bhaskar/Vijayawada
In an energy efficiency oriented deal, Switzerland’s Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has offered technology for environmentally friendly Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) to cement industries in Andhra Pradesh. This new cement is with 40 per cent less CO2 emissions compared to standard cement. This LC3 is profitable compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
Dr Junathan Demenge, Head of cooperation and counselor, Switzerland embassy in India and A Chandrasekhara Reddy, CEO of AP State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM), SDA of Andhra Pradesh shared a report on energy efficient LC3 technology at IIT Madras, in Chennai on October 6, Thursday.
Cement industries saved 0.35 million tons of oil equivalent (4070 million units worth Rs.2,400 crore) and reduced 1.05 million Tons of CO2 emissions. AP government is promoting energy efficiency activities in a big way. AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Energy Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy are keen on environmental protection, said Special Chief Secretary, Eenergy, K Vijayanand in a message on the occasion.
The SDC along with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras organized a conference in Chennai on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) which is considered a breakthrough for reducing global emissions where AP State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM) was specially invited for the program by SDC.
According to Jonathan Demenge, Head of Cooperation and counselor, Embassy of Switzerland in India, the SDC is proposing the new cement mix called Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) which has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40 per cent compared to the standard cement while saving production cost in the lower energy use of around 20 per cent.
As cement is the most widely consumed building product and produced in huge volumes, the cement production is responsible for around 8 percent of man-made CO2 emissions. Generally, 95 percent clinker and 5 percent of gypsum is used in cement production. However Limestone together with calcined clay cement is unique in that it combines the clinker, calcined clay, limestone and gypsum.
As India is the 2nd largest producer of cement in the world, the cement consumption in the country is expected to grow between 6 to 10 percent annually. In view of this, the governments are requested to promote LC3 in view of its positive environmental and social impacts, said Jonathan Demenge. AP is giving importance to production of quality cement.
The Swiss agency through Indo Swiss BEEP that has come forward to support the AP housing department to reduce the temperatures inside the houses a few days ago, have now offered another technology-(LC3) to cement industries. Prof. Manu Santhanam (IITM), Prof. Ravindra Gettu (IITM), Mariana Canut (FLSmidth), Dr. Soumen Maity (TARA), Representatives from Cement Manufacturers has participated in the LC3 event.
