CO2 emissions from Polish cement industry

The cement industry is one of the most significant sources of anthropogenic emissions of CO2. It is connected with the specific character of the production processes, during which great quantities of CO2 are produced. Basic actions to reduce CO2 emissions recommended by the European Union's, Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Cement and Lime Manufacturing Industries, include: reduction of fuel consumption, selection of raw materials with low content of organic compounds and fuels with low coal contribution to heating value. All actions connected with the improvement of energy conversion efficiency of the cement production process cause CO2 emissions reduction. The use of at most acceptable by the valid standards amounts of waste as raw materials and additives for cement production, also brings about the reduction of significant part of CO2 emissions. These measures have been and continue to be pursued by the cement factories in Poland. This article describes the evolution of the cement industry in Poland over the period 1998-2008 and the resulting changes in CO2 emissions and explores the drivers for these changes. The sources of CO2 emissions in cement industry have been presented in this article as well as a discussion of potential ways to reduce Polish cement industry emissions even further. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.