Assessment on Cement Production Practice and Potential Cement Replacing Materials in Ethiopia

Abstract

Cement is the prime ingredient used in the construction industry. Cement consumption has a direct correlation to economic growth and improvement in the living standards of society. Energy and capital intensity nature of the industry necessitate large investments that require a long‐term perspective on financing and returns. Besides, production and consumption of cement are mainly subject to economic and construction cycles, resulting in volatility of operating costs and revenues. Addition to that Portland cement clinker production is one of the major sources of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases within the contribution of 5 % of the annual global atmospheric CO₂ emission. The increasing demand for cement has also provided the desired boost to the cement industry leading to a quite visible growth of additional production capacity and need to find out other cement replacing potential materials. As a result, the study amid to assess on cement production practice and potential cement replacing materials in Ethiopia to reduce the high cost of cement in order to provide sustainable and cost efficient structure for the public and private sectors. It can therefore, be concluded that in Ethiopia there is insufficient supply of cement and there also numbers of alternative cement replacing cementiouse materials like coffee husk ash.

Keywords: assessment, cement, production, replacement

DOI: 10.7176/CER/12-1-03

Publication date: January 31^st 2020