South Africa’s PPC has stated that it expects to pay around ZAR120m (US$8.5m) as a result of the new carbon tax and will also shut down a kiln at its Port Elizabeth (PE) facility to meet the new emission standards.

"I think it’s something that we as a country need to debate as to whether this is the right time for carbon tax, be that as a company we support a cleaner environment," said Njombo Lekula, managing director of the SA Cement division.

The company expects around 30 jobs to be impacted by the PE kiln shutdown.

"All our other kilns are compliant in terms of the nitroxide and dust emissions but the PE kiln, [which] because of its technology, was impossible to take it down," said Mr Lekula.