The cement industry has protested angrily at a newspaper article which identified it as a major obstacle on the world’s path to a low-carbon economy.

The report in The Guardian on the Cement Sustainability Initiative meeting in Brussels said the industry is responsible for 5%+ of world carbon dioxide emissions and said it is predicted to generate about 5bnt/y by 2050. It noted the industry’s attempts to improve energy efficiency and the use of alternative fuels but said projected production increases would undermine such efforts.

The British Cement Association said the UK industry is making good progress in reducing its carbon footprint through replacement of primary raw materials and fossil fuels (a process opposed in the UK by environmentalists, ironically). It welcomed the opportunity for debate.

“Contrary to the report in today’s Guardian newspaper, the UK cement industry is not an ‘obstacle’ to a low carbon economy, but an essential component,” said BCA chief executive Mike Gilbert. “Since 1990, UK cement manufacturers have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 29%, saving over 3.9mt of CO2.
www.guardian.co.uk