The benchmark for green production

Over the years, AfriSam has pioneered and sustained numerous initiatives towards a greener future, honouring its values of people, planet and performance. Nivashni Govender, environmental specialist, AfriSam, expands on emissions reduction and allied conservation strategies.

As one of the top 10 CO

2 emitters globally (when measured per capita), the cement manufacturing

Believed to an industry first, AfriSam has introduced biodiversity management plans at all its mining operations

industry is often singled out as a culprit in the greenhouse gas debate, regularly coming under fire to reduce its carbon footprint.

“To put actions to our concerns, we established our own environmental department as early as 1992 and developed an environmental policy just two years later,” says Govender.

“It’s in our cement manufacturing business where the most notable impact on the lowering of carbon emissions is achieved. Our ongoing focus on alternative fuels and resources has allowed us to steadily reduce the amount of coal burnt in our cement kilns, which in turn contributes to lower CO 2 emissions,” she continues. “One example is at our Dudfield plant, where we developed and implemented process modifications to allow us to co-process scrap tyres – a strategy that also contributes significantly to addressing the environmental hazards posed by tyres when they are disposed of in a landfill.” The introduction of AfriSam’s green cement product range in the year 2000 added to its goal of becoming one of the lowest CO generators per tonne in Africa. “The use 2 of extenders in our cement has resulted in a substantial reduction in our clinker factor, without compromising the quality of our

products,” says Govender.

Nivashni Govender, environmental specialist, AfriSam

Water conservation, dust suppression

In other areas, energy-efficient lighting has been installed across the company’s cement, readymix and aggregate quarry facilities, and water conservation has become a priority in all its operations.

AfriSam’s programmes focus on reducing the amount of water per tonne of cement and aggregate produced, or per tonne of readymix prepared. “Our readymix plants, for instance, have strict reuse and recycling processes, and must recycle at least 50% of their greywater generated on-site,” she explains.

Dust suppression remains another critical environmental priority for all AfriSam readymix plants. Where deemed necessary as an additional measure, automatic dust suppression systems, using fine recycled water mist, have been installed around the perimeter of identified plants, with additional systems where the readymix trucks are loaded.

Rehabilitation, biodiversity

“When it comes to aggregate production, rehabilitation and biodiversity at our quarry sites are priorities. As early as 1986, AfriSam formed the first trust of its kind specifically to cater for rehabilitation costs on closure – even before this was a legislated requirement for mines,” says Govender. “Our current strategy of concurrent rehabilitation – in which we rehabilitate as we mine – has proved very effective both from an environmental and ecological perspective, as well as a cost perspective.”

AfriSam’s attention to protect and foster biodiversity, especially where species are protected by law or are endangered, involves detailed and ongoing research to measure the environmental impact of operations on species of flora and fauna. As a commitment to protecting biodiversity, specific biodiversity plans have been developed across all cement and aggregate sites.

Sterkfontein cultural heritage

“Environmental protection also has implications when it comes to cultural heritage,” says Govender. “When an area of underground caves was discovered at one of our then active quarries near Sterkfontein, Gauteng – part of a World Heritage Site – we decided that the value of this contribution to our country’s cultural heritage and scientific knowledge far outweighed any income the quarry could generate for the company. Working with the University of the Witwatersrand, we donated this valuable national treasure for scientific and public use, while continuing to support its maintenance.”

The environmental focus extends to the management of waste generated at all operations, where oil, conveyor belts and pallets are reused or recycled wherever possible, and waste is separated on-site to allow for more environmentally friendly disposal. Disposal to landfill is the last option.