Sustainable dev’t now part of cement makers’ SOP

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s major cement producers are leading the way in making sustainable development measures an integral part of their standard operating procedures (SOP).

As market demand continues to increase, the cement manufacturers recognize that their challenge is to continue providing the same high quality cement while finding ways to minimize use of conventional raw materials, fuel, and water.

Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) member- companies CEMEX Philippines, Holcim Philippines, Lafarge Philippines, Northern Cement Corp., Pacific Cement Corp., and Taiheiyo Philippines have invested in technologies that would enable them to use fewer raw materials in cement production.

CEMEX, in partnership with Sinoma Energy, is set to construct a six- megawatt (6MW) waste heat recovery facility. It will use a Peak-Off Peak Scheme designed to help decrease power consumption.

On the other hand, Holcim Philippines has reduced its energy and water consumption by installing water recovery systems and maximizing the use of alternative fuels and raw materials in its plants. Better technologies and manufacturing efficiencies have also resulted in Holcim’s optimal use of raw materials.

Lafarge Republic’s (LRI’s) Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) facilities in its Teresa and two Bulacan plants will reduce approximately 30 percent of municipal solid waste in the Payatas landfill by converting it into usable energy. Through its Total Ash Management initiative, LRI will responsibly dispose of and or utilize 100 percent of the fly and bottom ash of GNPower Mariveles coal plant (GMCP). LRI will “pay” for this ash through its cement products, which GMCP will make available to Bataan’s public works projects.

For its part, Northern Cement installed devices that will ensure reduced energy consumption. It recycles 100 percent of the water used by its plant in La Union province.

Pacific Cement has a centralized water recovery system in place. It has adopted a policy providing for optimum use of raw mixes in its Surigao plant.

Taiheiyo pursues information dissemination activities to encourage its employees to practice water and energy conservation. It also explores options regarding the use of other alternative materials in cement production.

“Sustainable development is now part of our member-firms’ business objectives. It is not an extra effort on our part, but an integral basic principle in our operations,” CeMAP president Ernesto Ordonez said.

CeMAP has been recognized as a pace setter in the Federation of Philippine Industries’ (FPI) thrust to popularize sustainable development in the business sector, giving rise to FPI’s Sustainable Development Recognition Awards.