Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies

Decarbonizing the cement industry is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector and achieving sustainable development goals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region faces economic, regulatory, and technical challenges that must be addressed to facilitate this transition....

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Main Authors: Andrés André Camargo-Bertel, Diego Hincapie, Victor Pugliese, Arturo Gonzalez-Quiroga, Oscar Pupo-Roncallo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Energy Conversion and Management: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000881
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author Andrés André Camargo-Bertel
Diego Hincapie
Victor Pugliese
Arturo Gonzalez-Quiroga
Oscar Pupo-Roncallo
author_facet Andrés André Camargo-Bertel
Diego Hincapie
Victor Pugliese
Arturo Gonzalez-Quiroga
Oscar Pupo-Roncallo
author_sort Andrés André Camargo-Bertel
collection DOAJ
description Decarbonizing the cement industry is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector and achieving sustainable development goals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region faces economic, regulatory, and technical challenges that must be addressed to facilitate this transition. This article analyzes strategies, barriers, and policies to drive the decarbonization of this sector, assessing their applicability and impact. The study employed a two-stage methodology: first, a data analysis phase involving the collection of greenhouse gas emissions data and key performance indicators; second, a comprehensive review of scientific literature, sectoral roadmaps, and national commitments to identify decarbonization strategies, along with their associated costs, barriers, and policies. Four main strategies were identified: material efficiency, energy efficiency, fuel switching, and renewable energy integration, with CO2 abatement costs ranging from 10 to 45 USD/t CO2, depending on strategy. Additionally, electrification, industrial symbiosis, and carbon capture involve higher costs, with carbon capture ranging from 60 to 100 USD/t CO2. The analysis also evidences research and policy development gaps, highlighting the need to establish consistent regulatory frameworks, foster collaboration among countries, and design financial incentives tailored to local conditions. The results show the importance of a collaborative approach that integrates governments, industries, and the academic sector to overcome existing barriers and promote the adoption of clean technologies. These efforts entail updating sectoral roadmaps, boosting intersectoral cooperation, and developing public policies that respond to the realities of the region.
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spelling doaj-art-c8a22df9dbb046c9875f523f7eb838c42025-08-20T03:10:27ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-04-012610095610.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100956Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policiesAndrés André Camargo-Bertel0Diego Hincapie1Victor Pugliese2Arturo Gonzalez-Quiroga3Oscar Pupo-Roncallo4UREMA Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001 Colombia; Corresponding autor at: Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Vía Puerto Colombia, 080001, Colombia.UREMA Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001 ColombiaGIMYP Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001 ColombiaUREMA Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001 ColombiaUREMA Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 080001 ColombiaDecarbonizing the cement industry is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector and achieving sustainable development goals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region faces economic, regulatory, and technical challenges that must be addressed to facilitate this transition. This article analyzes strategies, barriers, and policies to drive the decarbonization of this sector, assessing their applicability and impact. The study employed a two-stage methodology: first, a data analysis phase involving the collection of greenhouse gas emissions data and key performance indicators; second, a comprehensive review of scientific literature, sectoral roadmaps, and national commitments to identify decarbonization strategies, along with their associated costs, barriers, and policies. Four main strategies were identified: material efficiency, energy efficiency, fuel switching, and renewable energy integration, with CO2 abatement costs ranging from 10 to 45 USD/t CO2, depending on strategy. Additionally, electrification, industrial symbiosis, and carbon capture involve higher costs, with carbon capture ranging from 60 to 100 USD/t CO2. The analysis also evidences research and policy development gaps, highlighting the need to establish consistent regulatory frameworks, foster collaboration among countries, and design financial incentives tailored to local conditions. The results show the importance of a collaborative approach that integrates governments, industries, and the academic sector to overcome existing barriers and promote the adoption of clean technologies. These efforts entail updating sectoral roadmaps, boosting intersectoral cooperation, and developing public policies that respond to the realities of the region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000881Climate changeCement industryIndustrial decarbonizationMitigation strategiesDecarbonization policiesLatin America and the Caribbean
spellingShingle Andrés André Camargo-Bertel
Diego Hincapie
Victor Pugliese
Arturo Gonzalez-Quiroga
Oscar Pupo-Roncallo
Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Climate change
Cement industry
Industrial decarbonization
Mitigation strategies
Decarbonization policies
Latin America and the Caribbean
title Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
title_full Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
title_fullStr Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
title_full_unstemmed Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
title_short Decarbonizing the cement industry in Latin America and the Caribbean: A comprehensive review of strategies, barriers, and policies
title_sort decarbonizing the cement industry in latin america and the caribbean a comprehensive review of strategies barriers and policies
topic Climate change
Cement industry
Industrial decarbonization
Mitigation strategies
Decarbonization policies
Latin America and the Caribbean
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000881
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