CBI Ghana LC3 | Ghana

As the world’s largest flash calciner to enter operation CBI Ghana is spearheading the shift to calcined clay-based cement in Africa. The project responds to both economic and environmental imperatives, addressing high clinker import costs and the need for sustainable building materials. The company intends to use the clay in LC3 formulations, a type of cement blend that typically contains 50-60% clinker, 20-30% activated clay and 15-20% limestone. To enable this project, the company had to break through regulatory and market challenges, particularly the absence of a dedicated LC3 standard in Ghana.

Ghana imports clinker, adding 25% logistical costs and macro-economic risk. LC3 can be produced using local materials, is cheaper, and can reduce clinker rates to 35% (we are currently close to 40%). Despite industry inertia, we aim for LC3-35 to become the African standard and have already inspired several African nations.

CBI Ghana

CBI hana’s flash calciner is an industrial furnace that rapidly heats, dehydrates (or ‘calcines’) and cools locally-sourced clay in a matter of seconds to create a pure and highly reactive activated clay. Activated clay is a highly promising Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) as it is widely available and provides strong concrete performance.

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Bright Spot | CBI Ghana

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