(KPL/Prensa Latina) The LC3 Experimental Low Carbon Cement Plant, located in the central province of Villa Clara and the first of its kind in Cuba, is diversifying its services in the pursuit of developing this material.

According to Dr José Fernando Martirena, director of the Research and Development Centre for Structures and Materials at the “Marta Abreu” Central University of Las Villas (UCLV) and head of the project, they are also working on material testing, automation processes and other construction-related innovations.

The Cuban industry is a world pioneer in the use of LC3 ecological cement, a type of material capable of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere during the manufacturing process like no other in the world.

According to the latest United Nations report on the subject, entitled “Low-carbon cement: aligning environmental goals and housing needs”, there are currently 22 such plants around the world, capable of producing more than 50 million tonnes of environmentally friendly cement last year.

The Cuban plant’s collaboration with foreign companies has contributed to this achievement, particularly through the evaluation of raw materials, the performance of real industrial tests and the definition of technical parameters for scaling up production.

Martirena explained that this cement can reduce the environmental impact of the producing industries by up to 40%, a very attractive figure worldwide in a sector that is called to reduce pollution.

The Cuban industry, which is affiliated to the UCLV, is in contact with European and American countries in order to develop this material.

KPL