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Clinker, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U

Unit process Australia v00.00.001

Included processes: Includes the whole manufacturing process to produce clinker (raw material provision, grinding and mixing; rotary kiln process), internal processes (transport, etc.) and for the infrastructure only the rotary kiln (material consumption) is taken into account. No administration is included. Waste (as secondary fuel and raw material) enter the system without environmental burdens from upstream processes. Only its transports to the cement plant and its burning emissions are included. Remark: Special inputs (Not taken into account as they enter the system burdenfree) are waste materials which are used as fuel (e.g. dried sludge, used oil, etc.) and as secondary raw materials (e.g. pyrite ash, sludges, moulding sand, etc). Geography: Clinker kilns in Australia Technology: The typical technology for clinker production in Australia. Production volume: 6.26 Mt/a in 2012-13 Record: Data entry by: Bharat Sharma Telephone: +61 449 787 612; E-mail: brett@lifecycles.com.au; Company: Lifecycle Strategies; Country: AU Generator: Data entry by: Bharat Sharma Telephone: +61 449 787 612; E-mail: brett@lifecycles.com.au; Company: Lifecycle Strategies; Country: AU

Sector
Other Materials
Contributor
—
Last updated
12 Oct 2026
Reference ID
70c469d6-c39c-37ca-9380-8b51fee7c421

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Documentation

Quantitative reference
Clinker, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U
Sampling procedure
From the data made available by Cement Industry Federation Australia
Creation date
13 Mar 2015
Is copyright protected
No
Is infrastructure process
No
Tags
material
Sources
Life Cycle Inventories of Building Products/2007/Kellenberger D.

Product outputs

Flow AmountUnitComment
Clinker, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U 1.0 kg AUSTRALIA

Technical inputs

Flow AmountUnitComment
Ammonia, anhydrous, liquid {RER}| market for ammonia, anhydrous, liquid | Cut-off, U 0.0007 kg (1,4,1,5,2,5);taken from BAT document
Bauxite {GLO}| market for bauxite | Cut-off, U 0.0471 kg (1,1,3,1,1,5);
Black coal, QLD, at mine {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.1167142857142857 kg (2,1,1,2,1,5);
Calcareous marl {RoW}| market for calcareous marl | Cut-off, U 0.04710000000000014 kg —
Cement factory {GLO}| market for cement factory | Cut-off, U 0.00000000000627 Item(s) (2,1,1,1,1,5);
Coke {GLO}| market for coke | Cut-off, U 0.0020425 MJ (2,1,1,2,1,5); taken from ecoinvent database
Diesel {RoW}| market for diesel | Cut-off, U 0.0009424450970937623 kg (2,1,1,2,1,5); taken from ecoinvent database
Electricity, low voltage {AU}| market for electricity, low voltage | AusLCI, U 0.061380000000000004 kWh (2,1,1,1,1,5);
Industrial machine, heavy, unspecified {RoW}| market for industrial machine, heavy, unspecified | Cut-off, U 0.0000376 kg (4,4,1,1,1,5); taken from ecoinvent database
Iron ore concentrate {GLO}| market for iron ore concentrate | Cut-off, U 0.031400000000000004 kg (1,1,3,1,1,5);
Light fuel oil {RoW}| market for light fuel oil | Cut-off, U 0.0000376 kg (2,1,1,2,1,5); taken from ecoinvent database
Limestone, crushed, for mill {RoW}| market for limestone, crushed, for mill | Cut-off, U 1.393375 kg (2,1,3,3,2,5);
Lubricating oil {RoW}| market for lubricating oil | Cut-off, U 0.0000471 kg (2,1,1,2,1,5); taken from ecoinvent database
Natural gas, high pressure, Australia {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.028644761848782303 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5);
Sand {RoW}| market for sand | Cut-off, U 0.05102499999999999 kg (1,1,3,1,1,5); rest of the silica is obtained from the impurites in Limestone
Tallow {AU}| market for tallow | AusLCI, U 0.004906410256410257 kg —
Transport, freight, rail {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.003214574999999999 t*km (2,1,1,1,1,5); assumed same as limestone transport
Transport, freight, rail {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.08778262499999999 t*km (2,1,1,1,1,5);
Transport, truck, 40t load {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.076635625 t*km (3,3,1,1,1,5);
Transport, truck, 40t load {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.002806374999999999 t*km (2,1,1,1,1,5); assumed same as limestone transport
Waste oil, delivered to plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.0026051735874744724 kg —
Waste tyre, delivered to plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.0021581132075471697 kg —

Outputs to treatment

Flow AmountUnitComment
Waste treatment, inert waste, at landfill {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.00008 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5);
Waste treatment, inert waste, at landfill {AU}| | AusLCI, U 0.000045 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5);

Elementary flow inputs

Flow Sub-compartment AmountUnitComment
Oxygen in air 0.2279149717329454 kg Oxygen consumed in fuel combustion. Included for mass balance purposes.
Water, unspecified natural origin, AU in water 0.67 l (1,1,1,1,1,2);

Elementary flow outputs

Flow CompartmentSub-compartment AmountUnitComment
Acetaldehyde Emission to airunspecified 0.00000217 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Ammonia Emission to airunspecified 0.0000228 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Antimony, ion Emissions to air— 0.000000002 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Arsenic, ion Emissions to air— 0.000000012 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Benzene Emission to airunspecified 0.000000226 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Beryllium (II) Emissions to air— 0.0000000105 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Cadmium (II) Emissions to air— 0.00000000101 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Carbon dioxide, fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.31306735863279994 kg Based on emission factors from NGAF 2014
Carbon dioxide, fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.544 kg Based on emission factors from NGAF 2014
Carbon dioxide, non-fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.0003157275 kg Based on emission factors from NGAF 2014
Carbon monoxide, fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.000619 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Chromium (VI) Emissions to air— 0.0000000263 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Chromium, ion Emissions to air— 0.00000000145 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Cobalt II Emission to airunspecified 0.000000004 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Copper, ion Emissions to air— 0.000000839 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Dioxins, measured as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Emission to airunspecified 0.00000000000096 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Hydrochloric acid Emissions to air— 0.00000631 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Lead (II) Emissions to air— 0.0000000518 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Mercury (II) Emissions to air— 0.0000000257 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Methane, fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.000010970642615251273 kg Based on emission factors from NGAF 2014
Methane, non-fossil Emission to airunspecified 0.00001401831571923077 kg From ecoinvent process
NMVOC, non-methane volatile organic compounds Emissions to air— 0.0000564 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Nickel (II) Emissions to air— 0.000000005 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Nitrogen dioxide Emission to airunspecified 0.0000019735575704221516 kg Based on emission factors from NGAF 2014
Nitrogen oxides Emission to airunspecified 0.00254 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Organic chlorine compounds Emissions to air— 0.00000784 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Particulate Matter, < 2.5 um Emission to airunspecified 0.0000185 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Particulate Matter, > 10 um Emission to airunspecified 0.00000566 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Particulate Matter, > 2.5 um and < 10um Emission to airunspecified 0.00000792 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Polychlorinated dioxins and furans Emissions to air— 0.000000000000693 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Selenium IV Emission to airunspecified 0.000000002 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Sulfur dioxide Emission to airunspecified 0.000334 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Thallium (I) Emissions to air— 0.000000013 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Tin ion Emission to airunspecified 0.000000009 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
VOC, volatile organic compounds Emission to airunspecified 0.0000396 kg (1,2,1,1,1,na); From NPI data
Vanadium V Emission to airunspecified 0.000000005 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process
Water Emission to airlower stratosphere + upper troposphere 0.76 kg —
Zinc (II) Emissions to air— 0.00000006 kg (2,1,1,1,1,5); From ecoinvent process

Parameters

NameValueFormulaDescription
N2O_EF_Fueloil 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CO2_EF_Tallow 2.75 — (3,1,1,1,1,na); kg/kg, Estimated from 75% Carbon content assuming 100% oxidation- note this is biogenic carbon
N2O_EF_Coal 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
fr_tallow 0.0267 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 5.33% of fuel requirement come fromliquid fuels so 50% taken as tallow and 50% taken as waste oil from fossil sources.
CH4_EF_tallow 0.002857143 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
fr_clinker 0.95 — (2,1,1,1,1,2); Cement comprises of 95% clinker and 5% gypsum
km_road 55.0 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); weighted mean of road distance of 7 main integrated cement plants from quarry
fr_ironoxide 0.02 — (2,1,3,1,1,5); As per CIF Australia, 2% of raw meal is Iron Oxide.
CH4_Tallow 0.00001401831571923077 m_Tallow*CH4_EF_Tallow —
fr_wasteoil 0.0267 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 5.33% of fuel requirement come fromliquid fuels so 50% taken as tallow and 50% taken as waste oil from fossil sources.
CH4_Fueloil 0.000000002367187861272 m_fueloil*ED_fueloil*CH4_EF_fueloil/1000 —
m_limestone 1.393375 (fr_calciumcarbonate*fr_rawmeal)/limestonepurity Limestone mass for transport and mining purposes
m_bauxite 0.0471 fr_aluminiumoxide*fr_rawmeal —
fr_aluminiumoxide 0.03 — (2,1,3,1,1,5); As per CIF Australia, 3% of raw meal is Aluminium Oxide.
CO2_wasteoil 0.008369649000000002 m_wasteoil*ED_Wasteoil*CO2_EF_wasteoil/1000 kg wasteoil*MJ/kg*kg/GJ/1000 = kg CO2
fr_water 0.67 — (2,1,1,1,1,na); 670 litres per tonne of cement, as per CIF Industry Report 2013. Assuming 100% water is used till clinker production.
CO2_EF_Coke 104.9 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
N2O_Coal 0.0000015812896109999997 m_coal*ED_Coal*N2O_EF_Coal/1000 —
CH4_wasteoil 0.00000016401423650999998 m_wasteoil*ED_wasteoil*CH4_EF_wasteoil/1000 —
ED_Coal 21.0 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); GJ/t, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
CH4_Coke 0.00000008169997549000001 m_coke*ED_coke*CH4_EF_coke/1000 —
CH4_Coal 0.0000035014275209999994 m_coal*ED_Coal*CH4_EF_Coal/1000 —
CH4_EF_Fueloil 0.001428571 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
fr_calciumcarbonate 0.71 — (2,1,3,1,1,5); As per CIF Australia, 71% of raw meal is Calcium Oxide.
tkm_sandroad 0.002806374999999999 m_sand*km_road/1000 —
N2O_EF_coke 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
N2O_EF_tallow 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CH4_EF_Coal 0.001428571 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
m_ammonia 0.0007 0.7/1000 0.7 kg ammonia per tonne of clinker as per Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Cement, Lime and Magnesium Oxide
CO2_Fueloil 0.0001207976328 m_fueloil*ED_fueloil*CO2_EF_fueloil/1000 —
tkm_limestonerail 0.08778262499999999 m_limestone*km_rail/1000 —
N2O_Coke 0.00000003689675759000001 m_coke*ED_coke*N2O_EF_coke/1000 —
CH4_EF_diesel 0.004761905 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
N2O_Tyres 0.00000003689675759 m_tyres*ED_tyres*N2O_EF_tyres/1000 —
N2O_Gas 0.0000001415216 m_Gas*ED_Gas*N2O_EF_Gas/1000 —
m_diesel 0.0009424450970937623 fr_diesel*MJ_fuel/ED_diesel kg diesel
CH4_Diesel 0.000000204761915 m_Diesel*ED_Diesel*CH4_EF_Diesel/1000 —
ED_diesel 45.626 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); MJ/kg, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
kwh_electricity 0.061380000000000004 kwh_electricitycement*fr_electricity/1000 kwh/kg electricity requirement
fr_rawmeal 1.57 — (2,3,2,3,2,5); Assuming 1.57 kg of raw material is required to produce 1 kg of clinker as per a study of cement industries in EU.
N2O_EF_diesel 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CO2_Tyres 0.004569481 m_tyres*ED_tyres*CO2_EF_tyres/1000 —
m_ironore 0.031400000000000004 fr_ironoxide*fr_rawmeal —
ED_tallow 23.4 — (3,1,1,1,1,na); GJ/t, energy content of Tallow fuel used in cement production. (2,5,1,1,1,na)
ED_Gas 51.039 — MJ/kg derived from rom National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014, considering density of gas as 0.77 kg/m3
LimestonePurity 0.8 — (2,2,1,1,1,na); Assuming Limestone contains 80% Calcium Carbonate and 20% Silicon impurities
N2O_wasteoil 0.00000007407093440999999 m_wasteoil*ED_wasteoil*N2O_EF_wasteoil/1000 —
CO2_EF_Coal 88.2 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
CO2_Tallow 0.0003157275 m_Tallow*ED_tallow*CO2_EF_Tallow/1000 kg tallow*MJ/kg*kg/GJ/1000 = kg CO2
m_coal 0.1167142857142857 fr_coal*MJ_fuel/ED_coal kg coal
m_tyres 0.0021581132075471697 fr_tyre*MJ_fuel/ED_Tyres —
N2O_EF_tyres 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CO2_Coke 0.005999231000000001 m_coke*ED_coke*CO2_EF_coke/1000 —
m_Fueloil 0.0000376 0.0000376 As ecoinvent process
fr_siliconoxide 0.21 — (2,1,3,1,1,5); As per CIF Australia, 21% of raw meal is Silicon Oxide.
fr_electricity 0.62 — (2,5,1,3,2,5); 62% of electrical energy is consumed in production of clinker as per a study, A critical review on energy use and savings in the cement industry by Madlool and colleagues.
N2O_EF_Gas 0.0000968 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
kwh_electricitycement 99.0 — (2,1,1,1,1,5); kwh/t of cement as per CIF forecast for 2012
fr_coke 0.0133 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 1.33% of fossil fuel requirement come from Coke, derived from Australian Cement industry reports
CO2_Coal 0.2161782 m_coal*ED_Coal*CO2_EF_Coal/1000 kg coal *MJ/kg*kg/GJ/1000 = kg CO2
CO2_Gas 0.0748544 m_Gas*ED_Gas*CO2_EF_Gas/1000 kg gas*MJ/kg*kg/GJ/1000 = kg CO2
ED_FuelOil 44.07 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); MJ/kg, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
N2O_Fueloil 0.0000000010690524221519999 m_fueloil*ED_fueloil*N2O_EF_fueloil/1000 —
fr_gas 0.34 — (2,1,1,1,1,na); 34% of fuel requirement come from gas, derived from Australian Cement industry reports
N2O_Diesel 0.000000027741923 m_Diesel*ED_Diesel*N2O_EF_Diesel/1000 —
tkm_limestoneroad 0.076635625 m_limestone*km_road/1000 —
CH4_EF_Gas 0.004761905 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
MJ_fuel 4.3 — (2,1,2,1,1,4); MJ/kg of Clinker as per CIF forecast for 2012
CO2_EF_Fueloil 72.9 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
CH4_Gas 0.00000696190511 m_Gas*ED_Gas*CH4_EF_Gas/1000 —
m_Gas 0.028644761848782303 fr_gas*MJ_fuel/ED_gas kg gas
fr_coal 0.57 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 57% of fuel requirement come from Coal, derived from Australian Cement industry reports
CH4_EF_coke 0.001428571 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CH4_EF_wasteoil 0.001428571 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, adopted same as fuel oil, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CH4_EF_tyres 0.000952381 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
m_wasteoil 0.0026051735874744724 fr_wasteoil*MJ_fuel/ED_wasteoil kg waste oil
m_water 0.67 fr_water —
CO2_EF_wasteoil 72.9 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
CO2_EF_Gas 51.2 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
CO2_limecalcination 0.544 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); t/tclinker From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
ED_wasteoil 44.07 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); MJ/kg, adopted same as Fuel oils
CH4_Tyres 0.00000005446666939 m_tyres*ED_tyres*CH4_EF_tyres/1000 —
N2O_EF_wasteoil 0.000645161 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, adopted same as fuel oil, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014 back calculated using IPCC SAR GWP factors as per NGA
CO2_Diesel 0.0029756 m_Diesel*ED_Diesel*CO2_EF_Diesel/1000 —
ED_Coke 28.0 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); Value from http://www.natural-gas.com.au/about/references.html
plantlife 25.0 — (na,na,na,na,na,na)
N2O_Tallow 0.00000007407093440999999 m_Tallow*ED_Tallow*N2O_EF_Tallow/1000 —
m_coke 0.0020425 fr_coke*MJ_fuel/ED_Coke —
m_sand 0.05102499999999999 (fr_siliconoxide*fr_rawmeal)-((fr_calciumcarbonate*fr_rawmeal)/LimestonePurity-(fr_calciumcarbonate*fr_rawmeal)) Considering that 20% impurities in limestone is silica and rest of the 21% added as sand
m_other 0.04710000000000014 fr_rawmeal-(m_limestone+m_sand+m_bauxite+m_ironore) Assuming rest of the 3% part of the raw meal is calcareous marl
fr_diesel 0.01 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 1% of fossil fuel requirement come from diesel, derived from Australian Cement industry reports
fr_tyre 0.0133 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); 1.33% of fossil fuel requirement come from tyre, derived from Australian Cement industry reports
CO2_EF_Tyres 79.9 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
tkm_sandrail 0.003214574999999999 m_sand*km_rail/1000 —
ED_Tyres 26.5 — (3,1,1,1,1,na); GJ/t, energy content of Tyres fuel used in cement production. (2,5,1,1,1,na)
m_tallow 0.004906410256410257 fr_tallow*MJ_fuel/ED_tallow kg tallow
CO2_EF_Diesel 69.2 — (1,1,1,1,1,na); kg/GJ, From National Greenhouse Accounts Factors July 2014
km_rail 63.0 — (2,1,1,1,1,4); weighted mean of rail distance of 7 main integrated cement plants from quarry