EMISSIONS MONITORING

CSI developed a protocol for the reduction of emissions and Votorantim exceeded the targets set for each item. By 2010 the company had attained a 12,9 percent decrease in NOx emissions, 24,8 percent in SOx, and 6,5 percent in particulate matter.

The cement production process results in the release of certain gases into the atmosphere. These emissions are monitored and reported in accordance with local, national, and, in some cases, international norms. Various methods are in place for ensuring compliance with emission limits.

As the systems for measuring and reporting vary from company to company and country to country, CSI developed an Emissions Monitoring Protocol. Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur (SOx) compounds were considered the main pollutants in terms of volume, but the member companies also decided to monitor other emissions as well, such as dioxins and furans, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, and thallium).

As part of the initiative, each company set individual targets and committed to monitoring and publishing its emissions by the end of 2006, using common CSI performance indicators. In this manner, cement industry stakeholders will have clear and reliable information at their disposal on the nature of the sector's emissions, their environmental impact, and what is being done to reduce them.

Commitments individually assumed by CSI companies....

  • Implement the recommendations outlined in the Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Protocol.
  • Make data on emissions available and accessible to stakeholders by 2006.
  • Set emission reduction targets for all relevant pollutants and make the results public.

... And the results obtained by Votorantim Cimentos

  • Based on CSI directives, VC established corporate guidelines for Emissions Monitoring and Reporting in December 2005;
  • Reduction targets: Votorantim Cimentos' emissions reduction targets were set internally and of its own accord in the year 2000, shortly after joining CSI: a 5 percent reduction in NOx, SOx, and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 2012 on figures for 2000. By 2010 the company had already achieved a 12,9 percent decrease in NOx emissions, 24,8 percent in SOx, and 6,5 percent in PM. Click here to view the performance indicators. Chief amongst the initiatives VC implemented in order to obtain these results were: NOx reductions in Canada and SOx reductions in the USA.

Emissions Monitoring and Reporting

Votorantim Cimentos drafted a manual for its mandatory procedures concerning stack emissions from its clinker kilns: "Emissions Monitoring and Reporting" (EMR). Its stipulations do not constitute legal requirements, but do represent the state-of-the-art in emissions management.

The main EMR objectives are to:

Internally

  • Provide a panorama of VC in terms of the main stack emissions generated by its cement factories;
  • Plan for continuous improvement by setting targets and standards;
  • Demonstrate progress through reliable and transparent measuring and reporting.

Externally

  • Build and maintain corporate trust and credibility;
  • Create and preserve a corporate image associated with sustainable development;
  • Help valorize the business;
  • Support and subsidize the facilities so that they can measure, evaluate, and report principal stack emissions;
  • Ensure the quality and comparability of the results in relation to the following aspects: compliance with legal requirements, results benchmarking, and continuous performance improvement.

Measuring progress

The reduction of pollutant emissions can be evaluated using the following indicators

The number of kilns with continuous and discontinuous monitoring increased between 2009 and 2010. To achieve effective control of emissions, the target of Votorantim Cimentos by 2012 is to monitor (continuous and discontinuous) 100% of clinker produced.

Check out the Assurance Letter of the external audit conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

NOx reduction in Canada

The companies of Votorantim Cimentos North America (VCNA) achieved an expressive reduction in NOx (carbon oxide) emissions at their facilities. With the use of SNCR (Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction), a method which injects ammonia or urea into clinker kiln exhausts, NOx levels were cut by as much as 40 percent.

Ammonia and NOx react chemically to form a water and nitrogen vapor. The release of the pollutant is monitored continuously, enabling the facility to adjust the amount of ammonia injected into the kilns. In this manner VCNA companies managed to avoid releasing nearly six thousand metric tons of gas into the atmosphere.

In use at VC since 2004, the method is a new arrival to the cement industry. The system was chosen for being more economical and more efficient than SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), the method most commonly used in the sector. SNCR enabled the Canada-based company to bring its NOx emissions within Ontario's provincial regulations. Suwannee, located in Brandford, Florida (USA) was the first Votorantim plant to adopt the method.

SO2 reduction in the United States

The St. Marys cement factory reduced its SOxemissions by 56.5 percent in 2006. Faced with the initial target of a 49 percent decrease, the unit installed a lime injection system toward the end of 2005 Lime reacts with Sox to form calcium sulphide, which either remains in solid form or is collected by the sleeve filters.

This measure enabled the facility to exceed its initial target and achieve a 56.5 percent drop in comparison with rates for the first nine months of 2006 and the same period of 2005. The system became operational in January 2006.

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