Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases through the Promotion of Energy Efficiency in Rural Lime and Alternative Binders Industry at the AME Level
Project / Program Summary

1. Objectives
   
   Immediate Term: To limit environmental damage in rural areas caused by the production of lime and alternative binders at the SME level, through the promotion of fuel-efficient and lesser polluting lime burning methods. Longer Term: Emulation and duplication of pilot plants by clusters of SMEs, enhancement of research and dissemination of related information through networking.
2. Activities / contents
   
   Problem to be addressed -- The majority of the population in Africa still live in rural areas where the overall quality and durability of housing, is rather low, with related environmental and health concerns. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is beyond the reach of the poor citizens for reasons of availability and affordability, and partial substitutes, namely Lime and Alternative Binders, normally produced at the SME level and affordable, are also not readily available due to constraints that hamper their production, namely: i) inadequate access to improved technologies; ii) excessive use of fuel-wood in the very energy-inefficient heap burning method leading to deforestation, uncontrolled gaseous and dust emissions, and other environmental concerns; iii) limited research and development capacity in the regions. In Tanzania alone, an estimated 100,000 trees are consumed each year at about 800 heap burning sites producing approx. 60,000t/y of lime, i.e., 66% of the country's total output. Heap burners need support for a transfer to small-scale energy-efficient kilns requiring training and possible access to small credits. Diverse applications of lime are found in the following areas: Construction -- Building materials and soil stabilization; Sanitation -- Water and effluent treatment; Environment -- Disinfection of lakes, ponds and forest areas; Agriculture -- Soil treatment.
   Implementation strategy -- The programme, to be initiated in East Africa, would address ecologically sustainable lime production through the promotion of fuel-efficient small/medium scale pilot plants for demonstration purposes in selected countries, encourage lime producers to form clusters of cooperative groups (SMEs), and emulate this example, which can then be eventually duplicated within Africa. Concurrently some small/medium scale lime plants could be selected for assistance in the improvement of their thermal energy efficiencies. Selected R&D institutes, in collaboration with National Focal Points (NFPs) of respective countries, will be assisted to provide institutional support pertaining to local SME development, techno-economic and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) surveys, research into the use of some local waste materials, e.g., agricultural waste, as potential secondary fuels for lime kilns, as well as enhance dissemination of technological information through networking. Within the first 15 months, national surveys, including EIAs, are also to be undertaken and reported upon in selected West, Central and Southern African countries cumulating in a Regional Workshop, to be followed by sub-regional demonstration activities.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   
   The programme is an example of how energy-efficiency cum environmental problems can be addressed to pave the way for the promotion of cleaner technology to be emulated and duplicated by clusters of SMEs. Benefits will include diverse uses of lime by rural communities, related employment generation, and involvement of women in relatively new activities. Energy consumption for the heap burning method is usually about 35 MJ/kg lime, equivalent to 10% fuel efficiency. Depending on the type of fuel available to specific project sites in selected countries, and with the heap burning method as the reference base line, the following energy-efficiency improvements in small-scale demonstration kilns are expected to be achieved: 2-3 fold gain in kilns using fuel-wood (15 MJ/kg lime); 3-4 fold gain in kilns using coal (9-12 MJ/kg lime); 5-7 fold gain in oil-fired kilns (5-7 MJ/kg lime).
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   
   Ownership: Demonstration/Modified Lime Kilns will eventually be operated on commercial basis by clusters of SMEs in respective countries.
   
   Global partnership: Exchange of newly acquired technological experiences through networking of respective local R&D institutes involved in programme as well as with R&D institutes in other developing regions in the South.
   
   Strengthening Coordination/Regional Coordination: Sub-regional (SRFPs) and National Focal Points (NFPs) will, in collaboration with respective R&D institutes, coordinate both the technological and socio-economic aspects of the regional programme.
   
   South-South Cooperation: Small/Medium-scale energy-efficient Lime and Alternative Binders production technologies and related R&D activities cum capacity building already practised in other regions of the South will be taken into consideration in further development of the envisaged programme.
   
   Capacity building: This has been taken into consideration through the involvement of R&D institutes and relevant University faculties for the technological aspects, and through the SRFPs and NFPs for SMEs development and management. Specific tailor-made training activities are also foreseen with respect to emissions control and general environmental management. Workshops and exchange visits will also be an integral part of the programme.
   
   Gender mainstreaming: It is assumed that better housing resulting from the use of Lime and Alternative Binder products will be of some benefit to women, as well as men, for instance because of lower needs of maintenance and cleaning. It also assumes that where women are involved in housing construction, they might be able to expand their skills into using relatively new binders, and where they are currently already involved in binder production to some extent, additional job opportunities may arise. Furthermore, women will continue to be involved in other diverse uses of lime, i.e., in sanitation, agriculture and environmental activities.
   
   Environmental management:
   
   • Control of depletion of forests as a result of the excessive use of fuel wood. Possible introduction of compulsory afforestation by users of fuel wood.
   • Guidance in proper quarrying practices, including control of erosion and loss of biodiversity in coastal areas.
   • Control of gaseous emissions (GHEs) and pollution by dust.
   • Possible utilization of some types of agricultural and industrial waste as alternative and/or secondary sources of thermal energy as well as pozzolana in alternative binder production.
   • Enhancement of compliance with existing environmental rules and regulations, and where non-existent, assistance in their development and popularization.

Potential partners: