As of 2018, the amount of carbon emitted by the cement industry in Korea totaled 34.1 million tons. It is the third most common after steel and petrochemicals. European industry experts stressed, "In order for the Korean cement industry to become a European-level clean industry, it is necessary to quickly increase the utilization rate of stagnant circulating fuel and circulating raw materials."

The biggest reason for the stagnation in the use of circulating fuels is the concern about the occurrence of harmful substances. Korean environmental groups argue that the use of waste tires and waste plastics as circulating fuels in cement plants generates large amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx).

In response, the cement industry counters, "The nitrogen oxide levels in Chungcheongbuk-do and Gangwon-do, where many cement factories are located, are lower than the national average or the metropolitan area." In addition, waste plastics used as circulating fuels generate nitrogen oxides as they are incinerated anyway, even if they are not used for cement manufacturing. The logic is that recycling waste plastics for cement production rather than meaninglessly incineration helps lower overall nitrogen oxide emissions.

Austrian factories are subject to stronger Austrian government regulations than European Union (EU) environmental regulations, but we have never been pointed out that the various circulating raw materials and circulating fuels we use emit pollutants to the extent that they adversely affect the human body and the environment. In the case of circulating raw materials, the substances allowed to be used in Korea are limited. In Korea, only two out of four types of cement can be mixed when making cement on a limited basis, including blast furnace slag generated when smelting iron ore, fly ash meaning fine coal ash, pozzolanic, a ceramic component, and limestone fine powder. On the other hand, Europe can utilize a total of 10 types, including waste concrete and bunting shale. 

"The use of circulating fuels and circulating raw materials is practically the most practical means for the cement sector to pursue carbon neutrality," said Peter Hodinot, former president of the European Cement Association.

[Bin Kim Dong Eun] bridge@mk.co.kr