The Society of Cement and Concrete Researchers in Nigeria (SCCRIN) has called for the adoption of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) as a critical solution in the fight against climate change.
The researchers made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the LC3 Day Nigeria.
The event was organised by SCCRIN in conjunction with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Lagos and Department of Civil Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.
The President, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu said the call to switch to LC3 was necessary because the production of conventional cement had a number of negative issues.
Onwualu said the process involved releasing of bad gases into the atmosphere thereby contributing to the effects of climate change.
He said that conventional cement production accounted for CO₂ emissions, mostly due to the high-temperature in processing it.
According to him, other hand, LC3 uses a combination of limestone, calcined clay, and gypsum, drastically lowering the need for energy-intensive clinker.
“The idea now is looking for alternatives to conventional cement. Of course, the conventional cement is serving us, but the change is because of the environmental issues associated with the production.
“We know that if we continue with the current method of producing cement, in the long run, we are threatening the environment, we are threatening the earth,” he said.
According to one of the Organisers of the LC3 Nigeria event and an Engineer, Olumoh Sharafadeen, the LC3 Nigeria event was put together by cement and concrete researchers in Nigeria to create awareness on environmentally friendly building materials.
Sharafadeen said this would assist in achieving a greener future and ensuring that environmental hazards were curtailed.
He explained that carbon credits were being awarded to countries based on their low carbon emission practices, so, when Nigeria adopts LC3, it would benefit from such award.
He said that SCCRIN collaborated with the universities to bring the LC3 research to light and avoid just having researches kept on the shelves of universities.
Sharafadeen called on government, the biggest player in the industry. to take advantage of the LC3 innovation research and help the industry to grow and achieve an economic diversity .
Also speaking, the National President, Nigeria Environmental Society, Dr Efegbidiki Okobia said the LC3 innovation was apt because of the reduction of carbon dioxide emission from cement production, looking at the global concern on climate change.
Okobia said it had a lot of implications with regards to environmental and public health.
“The LC3 cement will cover some critical environmental challenges and help in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is supposed to come into play as a full completed project by 2030.” he said.
NAN
