Implementating Principle of Continual Improvement of Resource Effi ciency and Environmental Performance of Cement Production: a Case Study

The article presents approaches to assessing the results of enhancing the environmental performance and resource effi ciency performance of industrial installations, which carry out environmental and technological modernization programmes and implement Best Available Techniques (BAT). The relevance of the research is determined by the need to form a system for assessing the effectiveness of the BAT-based environmental and technological regulation as a mechanism providing for the sustainable development, minimisation of negative environmental impacts (NEP), and maintenance of a favourable state of the natural environment. Authors emphasize that the improvement of technological potential and the growth of production capacities of the national industry have to be ensured while increasing the effi ciency of the use of natural resources, involving secondary resources in production cycles and reducing NEP. These tasks are solved by abandoning outdated technologies and implementing BAT, as well as forming close-loop processes. The article presents the results of a case study carried out at a cement plant, a category I NEP installation, located in the Central Federal District. Authors show that the gradual replacement of coal with natural gas, waste fuel (RDF fuel), biofuels, as well as the partial replacement of natural raw materials with iron- and calcium-containing metallurgical waste leads to improving environmental performance and resource effi ciency and reduce carbon intensity of products. The solutions used by the plant contribute towards the achievement of the national development goals, internationally accepted Sustainable Development Goals as well as towards the formation of a countrywide circular economy with low greenhouse gas emissions. In order to assess the effectiveness of the mechanism of environmental and technological regulation, the article proposes running a comparative analysis of the BAT-associated emission levels, resource effi ciency, and carbon intensity indicators achieved by industries classifi ed as areas of BAT implementation. As a comparison base, it is advisable using the indicators established in the relevant sector Reference Documents on BAT (BREFs) issued in 2015-2022. Authors note that the cement industry, as one of the leaders in being granted Integrated Environmental Permits and implementing BAT, may become a pilot industry for running the comparative analysis. Results obtained can also be used during the next review of BREF 6-2024 “Cement Production”. The approaches tested in the cement industry should be replicated in other areas of BAT implementation and scaled up to assess the effectiveness of environmental industrial policy at the national level.