Semen Indonesia announces GGBFS joint venture and is awarded for environmental initiatives

Increasing capacity

According to the Jakarta Globe, PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk plans to invest approximately US$2 billion in increasing its capacity from the current 30 million tpa to 40 million tpa by 2017. Expansion plans include upping the production capacity at its cement plants in Gresik, Tuban and Tonasa by 4 million tpa by 2016. Furthermore, construction of a new plant in Rembang, Central Java, is likely to commence later this year, while another will be established in Indarung, West Sumatra. Work on the latter plant is expected to begin in 2015, with start-up scheduled for 2017.

New venture

In June 2013, Semen Indonesia announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk regarding the establishment of a joint venture. The venture will process the byproduct slag, which is produced by Krakatau Steel, into ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) to be used at Semen Indonesia’s cement plants.

Environmental impact

The company has recently won several awards for its environmental initiatives. At the Indonesia Green Awards 2013, the cement manufacturer scooped awards in four categories: Water Resources Conservation; Renewable Energy Conservation; Biodiversity Conservation; Pollution Prevention and Pioneers. Semen Indonesia was also recognised at the SOE Innovation Award 2013, winning the prize for Best Innovative Corporate Culture and Management, Best Innovation of Green Product, Best Product Innovation of Energy and Mining Sectors, as well as Best Technology – Energy and Mining Sector.

At present, alternative fuels cover 5 – 8% of the company’s total energy needs. Semen Indonesia hopes to increase this figure to at least 10%. It also plans to process municipal solid waste into refuse-derived fuel in order to reduce its coal usage. In two of the main areas where the company’s plants are located – Gresik and Tuban, East Java – waste volumes reach 217 tpd and 83 tpd, respectively.

Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/23072013/cement_semen_indonesia_expansion_joint_venture_environment_awards_61/