Environmental Impact Study of Cement Factory using a Multi-Criteria Analysis: Evidence from Messebo Cement Factory, Ethiopia

Abstract

Cement is a pillar to develop infrastructures in Ethiopia. At the same time, cement production affects the local environment and nearby communities. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the local environmental impacts of the Messebo Cement Factory in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, and to identify the consequences of these impacts. A multi-criteria analysis and community perception survey were used. Primary data were collected through key informant interviews with three purposefully selected management bodies to identify the main impacts. A structured questionnaire on ten purposively selected external experts helped to estimate the weighting factors. Moreover, sixty employees, who were selected through clustered random sampling for scoring the identified impacts, and 120 randomly selected households, were investigated for the perception survey analysis. Moreover, the study used secondary data from supplementary documents to complement the primary data. The study shows that the preparation of raw material and coal, and clinker production at the factory are the major sources of environmental impacts. Additionally, most environmental impacts of the activities in the crushing and raw milling and coal and kiln processing units are substantial and affect the surrounding communities and local environment. The local communities suffer most from the dust particles of processing materials, noise, odour, heat lost and storm water. The study recommends that the factory introduce impact reduction and prevention programs. Such programs will improve the environmental quality of the surroundings and safeguard local inhabitants.

Keywords: cement production, environmental impact analysis, impacts significant determination, environmental aspects, relative significance, Messebo cement factory and Ethiopia.