Decarbonizing Pakistan′s cement industry: a review of emissions, mitigation levers, policy frameworks, and implementation challenges
Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, cilt.28, sa.9, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 28 Sayı: 9
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10098-026-03576-8
- Dergi Adı: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, Compendex, Environment Index, Greenfile, INSPEC, Public Affairs Index, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Cement decarbonization, Cement industry, Climate policy, Emission inventory, Mitigation technologies, Pakistan
- Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
With approximately 5–8% of global CO2 emissions, the cement industry represents a critical target for climate change mitigation. This review provides an integrated assessment of Pakistan’s cement sector by synthesizing evidence on emission sources and inventory practices, mitigation levers and their implementation barriers, and the policy and regulatory landscape. Unlike previous studies that focused on individual dimensions of Pakistani cement industry, this review combines emissions quantification, technology assessment, and implementation and policy challenges. Recent plant-level inventory data indicate that Pakistan’s cement industry emitted approximately 38.45 MtCO2 in FY2023, with clinker calcination accounting for nearly 59% of total sectoral emissions. Using FY2023 operational indicators together with technology deployment data updated to FY2026, this review shows that despite significant deployment of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy measures, including approximately 370 MW of waste heat recovery capacity and nearly 417 MW of solar installed capacity, the sector continues to exhibit high emission intensity of 884 kgCO2/t cement with clinker factor of 0.93. The review identifies clinker-factor reduction, alternative fuel utilization, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as key opportunities for deep decarbonization. However, the absence of a dedicated sectoral emissions inventory, weak monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and limited policy support continue to constrain progress. The review highlights the need for mandatory plant-level reporting, periodic inventory development, stronger institutional coordination, and targeted climate-finance mechanisms to support the transition toward low-carbon cement production in Pakistan.