Cement Industry Initiates Development of Technology to Replace Imported Coal Ash

The cement industry has embarked on developing the necessary technology to reduce the use of imported Japanese coal ash and expand the use of domestic coal ash. The photo shows the limestone stockyard at Ssangyong Cement Donghae Plant.
[Photo by Ssangyong Cement]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The cement industry has embarked on developing technologies necessary to reduce the use of imported Japanese coal ash and expand the use of domestically produced coal ash. The cement industry, which has so far focused on recycling domestic coal ash through collaboration with power companies, is drawing attention as it begins to actively implement concrete and effective technology management to secure stable usage conditions going forward.

The Korea Cement Association, whose members include major domestic cement companies, announced on the 25th that it has launched the "Project for Establishing Cement Process Systems and Developing Raw Material Technologies to Replace Imported Japanese Coal Ash with Domestic Coal Ash," aiming to secure equipment and process technologies for recycling domestic coal ash as cement raw material by December 2023. A workshop to review detailed project implementation plans will be held over two days, from the 25th to 26th, at Donggang SiStar (Yeongwol, Gangwon).

This project aims to develop technology that allows the use of landfill coal ash and bottom ash as cement raw materials. It is supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and involves participation from cement companies such as Sampyo Cement, Ssangyong Cement, and Asia Cement, as well as related research institutions including the Korea Ceramic Technology Institute, Korea Construction Living Environment Testing Research Institute, Limestone New Materials Research Institute, and Yeongwol Industrial Promotion Agency.

The cement industry has faced difficulties securing the quantities needed for cement production because most of the high-quality fly ash (Fly Ash, with the same properties as imported coal ash) among domestic coal ash is primarily supplied for a fee to the ready-mixed concrete industry as a blended material due to the market environment.

Even the quantities replaced by imported coal ash are planned to be reduced to about 70% of the current level by 2024, following announcements last August to expand the use of domestic coal ash and develop alternative raw materials such as natural clay mines. Therefore, the cement industry sees the urgent need to develop technology that can use landfill coal ash or bottom ash, which are difficult to recycle with existing process technologies and equipment, to ensure stable cement production.

A cement industry official stated, "Upon successful completion of this project, it is expected that more than 900,000 tons of coal ash, which has not been recycled and has been landfilled at thermal power plants, can be used annually," adding, "This will have a positive effect by extending the lifespan of existing coal ash landfills and delaying the construction of new landfills, thereby contributing to environmental preservation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.