Introduction of Low Carbon Cement in
Fiji and the Pacific Islands 

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) is a group of 14 island countries situated in the Pacific Ocean. Due to their geo-position and small size, these countries are highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. These include a rise in sea level, saltwater intrusion, and extreme weather events, which further impact the countries’ development. These island countries are devoid of any large production facilities or power generation plants; thus, they are the smallest contributors to global warming. Instead, they are the most vulnerable due to their proximity to the sea and oceans. According to Fiji’s National Climate Change Policy, the global sea level changes will more than double by the end of this century (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2012). Since 1993, Fiji has recorded a 6-millimetre (0.2 inch) increase in its sea level per year, which is larger than the global average. The rapid rise in sea levels and the resulting saltwater intrusion stemming from the increased ferocity of coastal floods have converted portions of the island nations uninhabitable. Thus, the situation of these small island countries is extremely critical and all efforts must be made to minimize the risk of climate change and its resultant impacts.

To support the transition of Fiji and PSIDS towards a low carbon economy, various partners have joined hands together to build a ‘Blue Economy’ transition. This is an initiative led by the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources, supported by the University of Queensland, the Pacific Community, the United Nations Development Programme in Fiji, the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, and Technology and Action for Rural Advancement. The initiative will introduce limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) in Fiji and support the adoption of ‘Blue Concrete’ through the responsible sourcing of cement and aggregate.

LC³ is a ternary blended cement with clinker content as low as 50%. The rest of the constituents are calcined kaolinitic clays, crushed non-cement-grade limestone, and gypsum. The cement saves up to 40% of CO₂ emissions as compared to ordinary Portland cement. The only critical component is the clay, which has 40% content of kaolinite. LC³ is a general-purpose cement and is particularly beneficial in high chloride environments, for example, coastal applications. This is of particular importance to Fiji and PSIDS due to the region’s extensive coastline. LC³ can be produced in existing cement plants and does not require any high investment.

The technology is of particular importance to Fiji since the country is also one of the main suppliers of cement to the PSIDS. The cement industry in Fiji is smaller than in other countries. There are only two companies that produce around 2 million tonnes per annum of cement, which is used by the construction sector in Fiji and also exported to PSIDS. It is expected that the introduction of LC³ in Fiji will not only improve the disaster resilience of buildings within the country but also enhance their lifespan by making houses and infrastructure more durable. Presently, all the clinker in Fiji is imported. This not only increases the price of cement but also drains the precious foreign exchange reserve of the country. Thus, it is also expected that LC³ in the region will reduce the cost of cement by around 40%, thereby making homes more affordable and allowing a transition from current wood-based homes to more sustainable concrete houses. Additionally, this will help communities in the region adapt to climate change and the impacts of extreme weather events.

Reference

Secretariat of the Pacific Community. 2012. Republic of Fiji National Climate Change Policy, Government of the Republic of Fiji.