FLSmidth aims to significantly reduce mining industry emissions by 2030

“With economic growth, urbanisation and growing populations comes the demand for infrastructure, such as housing, schools, hospitals and roads. Added to this, modern conveniences such as air conditioning, appliances and smartphones are high in demand, and renewable energy options such as electric cars, wind and solar energy are looked to as the future.” said Thomas Schulz, Group CEO, FLS-midth.

All of that requires cement and minerals, and demand will only continue to rise. Today, we launch MissionZero to seize the opportunity to increase production and at the same time drive emissions towards zero,” he continued.

The company will move towards zero emissions in 2030 by leveraging the development of digital and innovative solutions tied to sustainable productivity, offering its customers the required technological solutions to:

• Operate zero emissions cement plants by 2030.
• Manage zero emissions mining processes by 2030 – with specific focus on water management.

Towards zero emissions in cement

FLSmidth estimates that it can reduce the CO₂ emissions per kg cement by approximately 70% by 2030 by leveraging opportunities within existing pioneering technologies, innovation projects and early stage R&D. To achieve this, FLSmidth is developing solutions such as blending clinker with alternative materials, exploring the use of new types of cements and providing solutions to cement producers to operate 100% alternative fuelled cement plants including waste-to-energy solutions.

In addition, the comopany will accelerate solutions to close the remaining gap (30%). As these solutions do not exist today, FLSmidth will actively seek knowledge partnerships with other companies and suppliers to co-create solutions.

Towards a waterless mining process

Water is a scarce resource in many parts of the world and represents a rising cost for FLSmidth’s mining customers. The company has set a goal to offer its customers solutions that support zero water waste by 2030, building on the success of recent developments, such as its dry-stack tailings solution (DST). Utilising DST can recover up to 95% of process water while being economically competitive with alternative water management options such as desalination, even for high tonnages.

Collaborative efforts

“With MissionZero, we commit to our most ambitious goals to date. We are doing it because it is necessary, because it is sound business, and because it provides us with a competitive edge.

“We are the go-to partner for sustainable productivity, and are perfectly positioned to address the challenges our customers face such as rising costs, tighter regulations and increased societal expectations.

“MissionZero goes beyond what is feasible today, and requires a paradigm shift in how industry players collaborate and innovate,” said Thomas Schulz.

Underlining its commitment to drive sustainable solutions, FLSmidth was among the first companies to join the GCCA’s Innovandi - Global Cement and Concrete Research Network. This new network brings together the cement and concrete industry with scientific institutions to drive and support global innovation with actionable research. Its aims to decisively build on the industry’s sustainability progress with the focus on reducing emissions and achieving better use of alternative fuels.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/13112019/flsmidth-aims-to-significantly-reduce-mining-industry-emissions-by-2030/