MoECC launches eco-friendly 'Green Cement' from solid sewage waste

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) Monday announced the introduction of 'Green Cement,' made from solid sewage waste, in line with environmental and sustainability standards and in support of the circular economy.The announcement came at a seminar under the patronage and in the presence of HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie.The seminar was attended by HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, and HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi.The research team, which includes Dr engineer Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari and Dr Khaled Hassan, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, UK, and several government entities and private sector companies that contributed to the project were honoured on the occasion.The seminar featured a visual presentation of the project by the research team, with the attendance of consultants and experts in the fields of environmental sustainability, road construction, cement, and building materials. The project was discussed from both technical and practical perspectives.In his address, HE Dr al-Subaie, praised the efforts of the scientific research team in transforming solid sewage waste into environment-friendly green cement, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 Vision and sustainability. He stressed Qatar’s interest in supporting and promoting scientific research and innovation, under the wise leadership’s directives. He also highlighted the ministry's focus on applied scientific research that tackles the challenges in the fields of the environment, climate, wildlife, and sustainability, while encouraging researchers to conduct purposeful scientific studies.Dr engineer al-Kuwari, environmental expert and engineering advisor at the office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, stressed Qatar's commitment to protecting the environment and maintaining its natural balance to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development for all generations.He specifically pointed out the priority areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water, the circular economy, waste management, and land sustainability. This research promotes public-private sector partnerships to invest in natural green cement for use in construction projects and the manufacturing of engineering materials.The production of 'Green Cement' involves processing sludge from solid sewage waste through burning, grinding, and mixing it with stimulating materials. It has been practically applied in the manufacturing of building blocks and foam concrete using recycled materials. This innovation contributes to reducing the carbon footprint and protecting air, soil, and groundwater quality from pollutants while minimising the environmental impact of sludge.The idea for this innovation originated from the ministry's research team in collaboration with researchers from Qatar and Queen’s University Belfast. The project was submitted to the Qatar National Research Fund competition in its 12th cycle in 2021 and underwent scientific and technical evaluation by global reviewers and experts in the field, achieving the highest evaluation grade (A) for a period of three years.According to the available data, the accumulated sewage waste amounts to approximately 40,000 tonnes annually, which can be used to produce 40mn blocks or 150,000 cubic meters of foam concrete annually, contributing to reduced production costs.The innovation is part of MoECC's efforts to promote environmental sustainability and support the circular economy, which aims to reduce waste in materials, goods, and energy while maximising their sustainable use. It also implements the fourth pillar of Qatar's Environment and Climate Change Strategy and is in harmony with the third National Development Strategy (2024-2030), which focuses on conserving natural resources, protecting ecosystems, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing resilience to future environmental threats.