Commitment To Maintain Environmental Sustainability, SIG Takes Advantage Of Waste To Waste As Alternative Fuels

JAKARTA - The commitment of PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (SIG) in supporting environmental conservation efforts continues to be proven through the use of fuel from utilization of biomass, industrial waste, to urban waste which is processed into refuse-derived fuel (RDF). In addition to keeping the environment sustainable, the initiative has helped the Company reduce carbon emissions through the use of alternative fuels for the process of producing green cement.

SIG's Corporate Secretary, Vita Mahreyni, said that waste and waste that are not well managed can not only damage the environment and reduce their carrying capacity, but also have a negative impact on social life due to the onset of diseases that lead to public health. However, with the application of circular economic principles, waste and waste can be processed into valuable products. SIG carries out these principles by utilizing RDF to biomass and industrial waste as alternative fuels.

The use of alternative fuels is a form of GIS responsibility towards the environment, as well as an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GRK) which is the cause of climate change. This initiative also shows the Company's strong commitment to encourage the use of environmentally friendly renewable energy. In addition to alternative fuels, SIG also uses alternative raw materials from industrial waste such as copper waste (copper lag), coal dust (fly ash), coal ash (bottom ash), paper solid waste (paper smear) and others.

In 2024, GIS recorded the use of fuel and alternative raw materials reaching 2 million tons, where the portion of alternative fuel usage reached 0.5 million tons and succeeded in increasing the thermal energy substitution rate to 7.56 percent from the previous 7.27 percent in 2023.

The use of raw materials and alternative fuels is an important part of the journey of the GIS transformation to present green cement products that are environmentally friendly. Currently, the level of carbon emissions produced from PCC SIG cement production is 494kg CO2/tone cement, or lower than the average conventional cement of 800kg CO2/ton cement. PCC GIS cement products carbon emissions are also recorded to be lower by up to 38 percent compared to conventional cement carbon emissions, "said Vita Mahreyni, in a written statement, Thursday, June 5.

Vita Mahreyni explained, through the use of raw materials and alternative fuels, GIS has helped the government and industry in overcoming waste and waste problems, even providing economic benefits for farmers from the use of agricultural waste (biomassa) which has the potential to cause methane gas if allowed to be degraded.

On the other hand, the use of RDF helps local governments overcome the problem of urban waste generation (municipal waste), limited land for final disposal sites (TPA), unpleasant odors and disease disturbances in the community. In addition, the use of industrial waste also helps the Company mitigate environmental impacts due to waste from industrial operational activities and encourages sustainable industrial development.

This sustainability commitment was strengthened by the presence of Nathabib, an environmentally friendly waste management division operated by a GIS subsidiary, PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia Tbk. Nathabumi's services include industrial waste management, both hazardous toxic materials (B3) and Non-B3, urban waste management, analysis and waste laboratories, and management of petroleum drilling waste. Nathabumi's waste and waste management system is carried out through a co-processing method by utilizing cement temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius, so as to destroy waste without residue.

"SIG realizes that environmental conservation efforts are a shared responsibility for all elements of the nation, including industry players. Therefore, as a company that has the ability and experience, GIS is ready to collaborate with various parties to contribute to achieving Net Zero Emission 2050 through the application of circular economic principles," said Vita Mahreyni.