Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development is the foundation of ACC’s environmental policy to contribute to building a better, greener world.

Environmental commitment aims at doing less harm by mitigating negative operational impacts and saving energy by operating our facilities in compliance with local laws, standards, and regulations. We apply state-of-the-art environmentally friendly technologies to reduce CO2 quantities and are committed to the Ministry of Environmental Affairs regulations and controls including installation of measuring instruments on all our chimneys connected to the National Environmental Control Network which enables the on line monitoring of the emissions to comply with environmental law limits.

We conduct environmental audits for all facilities on a routine schedule to work environment and ambient air. We also continuously develop rehabilitation plans for all quarry sites that takes account of the needs and expectations of our stakeholders and, where feasible, fosters wildlife habitat creation and contributes to the conservation of endangered species.

ACC implements sustainability and product stewardship practices in the design, manufacturing, distribution, and application of our products. This enhances their contribution to sustainable construction, minimizes their impact on human health and the environment, and reduces the waste produced by operations and uses the waste in the alternative fuel system, in addition to reusing our own byproducts and these of other industries and promoting recycling.

ACC seeks to maximize the use of renewable resources. This could be achieved by using alternative raw materials and alternative fuels.

ACC promotes environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviors by continuously managing and integrating the environmental management system into our business processes with clear responsibilities. We encourage suppliers, customers and other business associates to adopt similar practices. We are aware of the need to work closely with our contractors and suppliers, and encourage all stakeholders to communicate any concerns they may have regarding environmental issues.

ACC is committed to providing training and applying industry best practices to support the understanding of our responsibilities to operate in an environmentally responsible manner and to achieve a high standard of environmental commitment.

ACC is a reliable clinker and cement supplier, committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations through an efficient multi-skilled team focused on our core business and supported by the latest technologies.

We adopt and implement QHSE management systems that comply with international best practices and standards: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018.

Our QHSE is based on eight principles:

1. Set and review performance goals to drive continuous improvement and support the ACC strategy and vision.
2. Provide a healthy and safe work environment for employees, visitors and contractors.
3. Comply with the applicable HSE legal obligations and customer requirements.
4. Detect, control, eliminate, or mitigate HSE risks associated with the ACC operations and activities.
5. Set and continuously review the ACC objectives and goals in order to plan improvements that support the sustainability of the organization.
6. Measure, monitor, and analyze our customers’ needs fulfillment with the aim of reaching maximum customer satisfaction.
7. Select qualified, multi-skilled, and professional staff and support their continuous performance.
8. Continuously improve and upgrade the performance of the QHSE management systems in order to meet the highest standards.

ACC factory consists of two identical and fully equipped clinker lines with an annual production capacity of 2.1 million tons each. Our state-of-the-art equipment and technology supports a streamlined process and adaptability to local conditions. The plant machinery is of the most advanced proven design, supplied by world’s leading equipment manufacturers.

ACC’s limestone quarry is located 2.8 KM from the plant site. Nearby, the raw material crusher receives the limestone together with the outsourced clay. After crushing, the raw mix is transported via belt conveyor to the storage inside the factory. The limestone-clay mixture is automatically controlled by a gamma ray cross belt analyzer. 

Other materials needed for clinker and cement production, in lesser quantities, are directly delivered to the plant by truck.

Prior to the pyro-process, the raw mix, together with minor additions of sand and iron ore, is ground into vertical mills (2 ATOX 45) capable of grinding up to 500 t/h at the required fineness.

The five stage ILC Preheater/Kiln/Cooler systems, which are the core of the pyro-process, are the biggest capacity ever built in Egypt to date, designed for 6000 t/day each line. It can produce up to 6700 t/d steadily and comfortably. The clinker freshly produced is stored in 35,000 ton clinker silos. Each clinker line is equipped with two horizontal ball mills capable of grinding 200 t/h for a total installed capacity of 800 t/h cement production. To store the different types of cement, four silos with a capacity of 15,000 tons each are available. All silos have truck loaders underneath and feeding systems to the packing plants.

Both packing plants consist of 3 packing machines of 120 t/h each and 1 palletizer with a capacity of 210 t/h. Each packer can either feed the palletizer, or two manual truck loading points, which allows them to run continuously 24 hours per day. This way, 720 t/h can be loaded at any time but also, in peak times, forklifts can load more cement from two storage areas with a capacity of 2,000 tons each, where freshly produced palletized cement is stored.

All processes are monitored and controlled by PLC centralized in the Control Room, and the quality of each production step is controlled by fully equipped laboratory and personnel 24 hours per day 7 days per week.

ACC is pioneering the industry with bold, efficient, reliable, and sustainable advancements. We are among the first cement companies to implement a groundbreaking approach to alternative fuel consumption in Egypt, having invested millions of dollars to shift toward alternative fuels and more environmentally friendly resources, including renewable energy.

In 2014, the Egyptian government announced it would begin phasing out energy subsidies. This has driven us to intensify our efforts to improve our energy performance. ACC partnered with UNIDO through the industrial energy efficiency program to support the implementation of an EnMS in compliance with ISO 50001. Notably, ACC was the first cement company in Egypt to receive ISO 50001 certification, highlighting our leadership in energy management and commitment to global standards.

ACC participated in an energy benchmarking study for the Egyptian cement sector where we were recognized as the top performer among the sampled organizations. This has further motivated the top management to continue our efforts towards more sustainable production.

To support this approach, ACC established an EnMS that institutionalized a systematic approach to managing, monitoring, and improving energy performance. These efforts were recognized through the certification by TUV (Nord) based on third-party auditing.

In addition, ACC won an Award of Excellence in EnMS from the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in 2017, a high-level global forum that promotes policies and programs to advance clean energy. This award recognizes the top ISO 50001-certified organizations that demonstrate exemplary leadership in energy management and share insights that can help accelerate use of ISO 50001 and its economic and environmental benefits worldwide.

ACC was also awarded “Middle East Region Energy Project Award of the year“ in 2019 from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). In 2022, ACC was awarded the Appreciation Award in the yearly competition “Arab Energy Efficiency Day” organized by the Arab League, for the company’s distinctive role in energy efficiency.

ACC utilizes the most advanced technologies in plant operations and was the first cement company in Egypt to adopt solar energy, which also provides financial benefits through cost savings as well as environmental benefits by reducing its carbon footprint.

In the context of the Egyptian environmental regulations, the compliance audit conducted by the Egyptian Pollution Abatement Project (EPAP II) shows that Arabian Cement Company is complying with the applicable regulations in terms of air emissions, wastewater, and solid and hazardous waste management practices.

ACC aims to support the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions by partial replacement of fossil fuels with alternate fuels (rejects from municipal solid wastes, dried sewage sludge from water treatment plants, industrial wastes, agricultural wastes, and licensed to burn different kind of hazardous wastes).

Apart from a willingness to play our part in contributing to global greenhouse gas emission reductions, another key driver for ACC is energy security. Although ACC is equipped to use natural gas, diesel oil or even solid fuels (coal and/or petcoke), with increasing energy costs and concerns over energy availability in the future, ACC is driving energy efficiency in our production processes and to substitute the valuable fossil fuels with waste-derived fuels wherever possible and feasible.

By the end of 2013, ACC started using alternative fuels and was targeting to achieve 30% of its total required energy. Such approach would greatly contribute to the sustainable development in Egypt.

ACC is using a variety of methods to reach our alternative fuel target by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels through partial replacement by alternative fuel, maximizing both energy efficiency and total thermal substitutions rate, as well as supporting the ecological system by reduction CO2 emissions. One method is the installation of a HOTDISC system in line 1, an effective combustion device that can burn all kinds of solid wastes thereby reducing the investment and operational cost of pre-treatment of wastes. ACC’s use of the HOTDISC system is the first time such technology has been used for alternative fuels in Egypt, and it is considered the 9th installation worldwide, and 1st installation of FLS 3rd generation with a design capacity of up to 30 tph.

In 2024, ACC applied a new approache to upgrade their alternative fuels usage by direct investment in their assets , using a new technology for kiln process optimization by H2 injection in kiln 1 and installed a new conveying system by feeding extra 25 tph in kiln 2 that will upgrade the capacity of alternative fuels for overall plant by total substitution rate over 40% from total fuel inputs.

In 2016, Evolve Investments and Project Management was founded as a subsidiary of Arabian Cement Company. It specializes in build-own-operate waste treatment plants and providing organic and alternative fuels to energy-intensive industries. Evolve provides alternative fuels to ACC and other local companies, enhancing their operations and positively impacting the environment. As part of ACC’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, the company is using environmentally friendly carbon neutral sources of fuel provided by Evolve.

As a key player in the waste management industry, Evolve is a trusted partner for the safe disposal of waste. Through strong and long-lasting business relationships with waste producers in Egypt, Evolve secures varied waste sources ranging from municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste and agricultural waste.

Through Evolve, ACC aims to offer integrated alternative fuel solutions to other industries, extending and enhancing the beneficial effect that the organized treatment and disposal waste will have on Egypt.

In addition, Evolve is helping improve the community by collecting large quantities of industrial and municipal waste from other companies and municipalities that otherwise would have ended up polluting Egypt’s land and rivers.

Evolve also offers consultancy services to local authorities to support the development of waste management systems and to encourage more industry players to take advantage of the many opportunities found in this sector.

ACC is committed to promote the responsible sourcing as an integral part of running responsible business.

Our Aim Element of responsible sourcing are:
    • Transparent Supplier Requirements
Ensuring that all our supplier operate responsibly according to agreed standards as ACC has a commitment to not sourcing materials from or conducting business activities in areas that are environmentally or culturally sensitive.
    • World Heritage Sites (designated by UNESCO)
    • Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) or Protected Areas
    • National Parks or other legally protected sites
    • Respecting Indigenous and Local Communities: Avoiding business activities that might negatively affect Indigenous lands or culturally important areas, ensuring that communities' rights and land are protected.
    • No sourcing from protected areas: This could involve ensuring that all raw materials do not come from protected forests, wildlife reserves, or ecosystems that are crucial to biodiversity.
    • High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas: A commitment to avoid areas identified as having significant environmental, cultural, or social value, often aligned with international frameworks such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

    • Supplier Risk Assessment
Purchasing from qualified supplier and carrying out audits of suppliers based on potential risk.
    • Cooperation for continuous development
Working together with our supplier and partners to improve standard of practice.

ACC is committed to adopting sustainable practices that reduce the environmental impact of production processes.

As part of this commitment, we are increasingly incorporating secondary cementitious materials (SCMs) into cement production. These materials, derived from waste and by-products of other industries, help reduce the demand for natural resources and lower GHG emissions.
ACC uses and aims to use many sources of SCMs such as pozzolanic material, air cooled slag, as well as recycled construction and demolition waste depending on SCMs availability by substituting these materials for primary raw materials like limestone, clay, and clinker, the cement industry can:
• Reduce Raw Material Extraction.
• Lower CO2 Emissions.
• Support Circular Economy.
• Lower Production Costs.

We fulfill our commitment to sustainability with transparent actions focused on addressing what matters most to our main stakeholders.

As part of our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating climate change, we always monitor and track our GHG emissions across our operations. Public reporting of monitoring results is periodically updated and made available in this section.
During our journey toward the reduction target, the ACC operations team is aligned with our sustainability objectives and targets, and they consider the following areas in our periodic monitoring and reporting:
• ACC has targets for NOx, SOx and PM emissions according to Egyptian standards.

ACC SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024

ACC SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

ACC CLIMATE POLICY