CEBU CITY – A Japanese cement manufacturing company based in Cebu has recently earned recognition for being the “Safest Mineral Processing Plant” (cement plant category) in the country.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) handed the award to Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI) during the Safest Mines and Quarries Awards last November 14.

The awarding highlighted the 56th National Mine Safety and Environment Conference of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) at Camp John Hay in Baguio City.

“Earning the award again for 2009 shows the commitment of the company to operate within accepted international standards,” Katsuo Ono, TCPI senior vice president for production and plant manager, said in a statement.

The plant in South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu also received the Business for the Environment Award that the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave 12 years ago.

Last year, TCPI developed unique cement that was used for water-associated infrastructures like bridges, dams and ports.

The product is called a type 1S cement, an “almost Pozzolan cement” mixed with an additive called a furnace blast slag, making the mixture even stronger than Portland cement.
A blast furnace slag is a waste product of steel mills.

The corrosiveness of the type 1S cement will also not allow water to seep into a structure’s binding material.

Unlike the regular Portland cement, the Type 1S, technically referred to as the Portland Blast-Furnace Slag, will not generate much heat so that when mixed with water, it will not create any crack.

The type 1S cement, which was developed by the TCPI’s research and development team in the Philippines, is also cheaper compared to the Portland cement although it will have the same curing period as the Portland mix.