Standardization strategy of low carbon cement in Cuba. Case study for “siguaney” cement factory

Nowadays, the Cement Cuban Industry has installed a productive capacity of 2.8 MMt of clinker per year, for a use of the 40% of this productive capacity for different reasons. The reported production in 2014 was 1.8 MMt. The current demand of cement exceeds the production, indicating the necessity of new investments in the cement sector to increase the productive capacity and the production but this is impossible in short-term. The projection of this demand in the period 2015–2020 will imply an annual increase of 18% due to the new age of the economic reorganization we are currently facing in our country and the increase of constructive activity. Today, the LC³ production constitutes a viable alternative to reduce this problem. The Cuban Cement Industry has shown a huge interest on the development and implementation of LC³. With that purpose, it is necessary to work on the introduction of this cement in the Cuban standard. Since 2015, CIDEM has representation in the CTN No. 22 “Cement” and the CTN No. 37 “Concrete and Mortars” portraying an active participation. At present, our research is based on three points: 1.Development of a Technical Instructive about the determination clay potential to be use as pozzolan.2.Confection of the new standard about the specifications of ternary blended cement.3.Application of the NC 120:2014 “Hydraulic concrete — Specifications” for the development of concrete with LCC for the different levels of atmospheric and chemical aggressiveness. The main goal of this work is to develop an Implementation Strategy for LC³ in Cuba. This strategy links the standardization results to environmental and cost results including the clay deposit study, durability test and the experience acquired during several industrial trials. Siguaney Cement Factory has been selected to put into practice this strategy.