Energy use and CO2 emissions for Mexico's cement industry

Energy use and CO₂ emissions in the Mexican cement industry are analyzed for the period 1982–94. Using the Laspeyres index method, we estimate the relative importance of fuel intensity, clinker activity, the cement/clinker ratio, and the use of waste tires as an alternative fuel in the changes of clinker fuel use. Changes in CO₂ emissions are divided into energy intensity, cement activity, the cement/clinker ratio, and primary and final fuel-mix effects. The study shows that changes in all factors except for clinker activity drive fuel use down. Overall CO₂ emissions are reduced by changes in real energy intensity and the clinker/cement ratio, while the primary fuel-mix effect (which accounts for changes in the share of final energy used to produce both cement and electricity) and cement activity drive emissions up.