Vicem, FLSmidth set green goals
HANOI: Cement maker Vietnam National Cement Corporation (Vicem) and sustainable tech firm FLSmidth have announced a partnership in research and innovation for the cement industry with the goal of radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil fuels.
The two companies recently signed an agreement on the cooperation, pledging to achieve their goals together.
Vicem chief executive Bui Hong Minh, who was at the agreement signing ceremony, said Vicem is a leader among Vietnam’s cement companies in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
He said he was “delighted” that Vicem and FLSmidth had joined forces to build a new kind of cement plant sourced by food waste.
The CEO said the cement industry is reducing its carbon footprint by generating quality energy without coal or fossils, building ventilation systems and producing cement that needs thermal power of 1,500-2,000C from burning household waste.
Maxime Ramael, country manager of Denmark’s FLSmidth, also attended the ceremony. He called the cement plant a “breakthrough” that can burn 100% of raw material or food waste and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 33%.
The plant can burn all kinds of household waste and use the thermal power to produce cement, he said.
Vicem and FLSmidth are enterprises with similar goals, including the use of municipal and other waste streams as alternative materials, combustion of waste for heat energy substitution, improvement of energy efficiency and application of clean technology.
“We are happy to share our 120 years of experience and expertise to serve Vietnam’s as well as world markets with products contributing to the clean environment and in coherence with the rule of nature,” said Per Mejnert Kristensen, regional president for FLSmidth.
“The transition of the cement sector towards more sustainable production requires both collective action and leadership,” Mr Kristensen said. “We are proud that we have signed this important partnership with the leading cement producer in the Southeast Asia region with the goal of developing breakthrough innovations that will significantly increase the sustainability of Vietnam’s and the world cement industry.”
The company’s MissionZero programme will help customers move towards zero emissions, he said, adding that the partnership marks an important step for the sector and the people of Vietnam.