Times of Change – Yes Please!
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has promoted Portland Limestone Cements (PLC) and thereby kicked off a massive move towards those low carbon cements which can now contain up to 15% limestone. What a huge step change for the US cement industry!
And what an expressive example for the lack of synchronization in the standards of the international cement industry worldwide: In Europe CEM II/BL cements can contain up to 35% limestone already since more than 20 years.
May this opening towards composite cements initiate more synchronization among the norms and standard frameworks for cement and concrete in the world! We need to come down drastically with the clinker ratio within cement and with the cement ratio within concrete in order to meet the decarbonization goals which have been committed to so strongly! And as we are talking about goals and lack of synchronization: What about co-processing alternative fuels? Why is there an average TSR rate of 60% in Germany and Austria, while the world-wide average is still below 20% – and less than 10% in the US?
We need to hurry up and utilize any option to reduce the carbon footprint of the cement, lime and concrete industry. There is no future without cement – but cement has no future without decarbonization!
Sincerely yours
Matthias Mersmann
