The most southerly countries of Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, are of varying sizes and levels of economic development. This is reflected in their cement industries, which collectively share a production capacity of 23.3Mt/yr, according to research conducted for the forthcoming Global Cement Directory 2015. Here we look at the producers and suppliers to each market, as well as recent developments and future scenario.
The 0.5Mt/yr Norcem plant in Kjøpsvik, Nordland, Norway is the most northerly cement plant in the world, operating inside the Arctic Circle at 68° North. One of two Norcem plants in the country, it has been on the same site since 1918, although it has been extensively upgraded over the years, most recently by FLSmidth in 1991 - 2. Today, its compact site and scenic location, on the side of the Tysfjord and almost on top of Kjøpsvik village, provide unique challenges in terms of logistics, environmental protection and planning for the future. Global Cement's Peter Edwards recently visited the plant, speaking with key staff from the plant and HeidelbergCement Northern Europe, of which Norcem is a part.
The Kingdom of Morocco is a Constitutional Monarchy located in the extreme north west of Africa and to the south of the Iberian Peninsula across the Strait of Gibraltar. Next to the vital trade routes that pass through the Strait from the Mediterranean and further afield, Morocco has developed a mixed economy based on exports to its EU neighbours. Its location, along with a relatively stable political situation, has ensured steady economic growth. The country ranks in the top quarter of African nations in terms of GDP/capita.
White cement is a value-added product that can be used instead of grey cement for its heat-reflecting properties and superior aesthetic appearance. Here Global Cement reviews the global white cement industry and its developments during 2014.
The cement industry has long been dependent on the use of fossil fuels, although a recent trend in replacing fossil fuels with alternative fuels has arisen.1, 2 However, when unconverted or partly converted alternative fuels are admitted directly in the rotary kiln inlet, the volatiles released from the fuels may react with sulphates present in the hot meal to form SO2. Here Maria del Mar Cortada Mut and associates describe pilot and industrial scale experiments focusing on the factors that affect SO2 release in the cement kiln inlet.
