General Information
(Creation Year & Reason)

Netherlands - 1992
Germany - 1995
Reason: Avoid taxes and/or legal measures; lowering costs of reduction measures
France - 1996

Initiator(s)

CEMBUREAU (The European Cement Association) along with

• Dutch government with the industry sector

• German cement industry; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Economy

• French cement industry and the French Ministry of Environment

Objectives(s)

• Enhance energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions within cement industry

• Promote 'zero waste'

• Promote energy recovery through development of alternative fuels from waste

Timeframes and Milestones

Netherlands

• Based on 1989 figures, the Dutch cement industry will reduce its energy consumption by 10% by end of 1995 with long-term commitment to improve energy efficiency by 20% between 1989 and 2000.

• ENCI N.V., the Dutch cement company which is the owner of all 3 plants located in Netherlands, signed second covenant to improve its energy efficiency by 21% for the 1989-2000 period (based on 1989 figures). A reduction of 15% to be achieved through direct energy savings and a 6% reduction through the use of alternative fuels substituted for fossil fuels in cement kilns.

Germany

• Between 1987 and 2005, German cement industry to reduce specific fuel energy consumption by 20% (based on 1987 production levels) - the equivalent of a CO₂ reduction of 3 million tonnes/year.

• Energy consumption of cement plants in former East Germany will be reduced by 35% until 2005 (based on 1987 levels) through increased technology transfer.

• West Germany commits to a further 10% energy saving, through additional investment in energy efficiency and changes in energy consumption and production patterns with the use of alternative materials. (Energy saving potential of West German cement industry is smaller because of the implementation of past energy efficiency measures which have already resulted in a 55% reduction of energy consumption between 1950 and 1987.)

France

• For 1990-2000 period, French cement industry commits to reducing it fossil fuel CO₂ emissions by 25% and the CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement by 10%.

Implementation Process

Implementation process of energy efficiency

• Improving manufacturing processes

• Concentrating more production in most efficient plants

• "Valorising" wastes in the production process

• Optimizing the composition of cement

• Improved products

Monitoring Process & Parties

Netherlands
Covenants are agreements between the Dutch government, licensing authorities and the particular industry sector regarding the control of industrial emissions. Agreements provide for detailed arrangements regarding the implementation of sector specific medium and long-term emission targets. Implementation is monitored and evaluated by a Sectoral Consultative Committee (composed of representatives of all parties involved in agreement), issuing annual progress reports to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Germany
The monitoring of the German cement industry is part of the monitoring system coordinated by the BDI (Federation of the German Industries). The data are collected and evaluated by VDZ and its Research Institute. To achieve the maximum possible transparency, the data are submitted to an independent institution (Rhine-Westfalian Institute for Economic Research, RWI), which has been commissioned by BDI and the German government. The RWI's task is to survey the consumption of thermal energy and electrical power in the sectors that participate in annual intervals. After verification of the data the RWI publishes an annual monitoring report. Progress reports have been published in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

France
Detailed procedures for calculating the CO₂ emissions. French cement industry committed to report on annual basis to French Ministry of Environment.

Success in Achieving Stated Objectives

Netherlands 1996 Progress Report stated energy efficiency in 1996 improved by 18% compared to 1989.

Germany
Specific fuel consumption of the German cement industry decreased by 15.2% from 1987 to 1997 (West Germany 4.3%; East Germany 31.6%). Total fuel energy consumption decreased by 17.2% partially due to lowered cement production.

Public Education & Information Components

Germany
The German cement industry organized several meetings and congresses focusing on the potential for the process engineering and operational optimization of the production process. The aim is to give information and experiences about optimization measures to all VDZ member companies.

Replication Potential

High. Three individual countries already involved.

Mechanisms for Improvement

Germany The German cement industry has implemented a special working group (participants from industry and VDZ/Research Institute) to coordinate the monitoring in the cement industry and to develop and improve the agreement itself.

Contacts for Further Information