Builders of the Economy of Turkey Discussed Sustainability at TÜRKÇİMENTO Anatolia Meetings Discussed Zero Carbon Target in Goal 2050

The fourth of the “Anatolian Meetings” organized by TÜRKÇİMENTO to discuss the impacts of the cement sector that builds the economy of Turkey on the regional dynamics and on  the economy of the country was held on Thursday, February 25, as hosted by Mersin. At the online meeting that took place in collaboration with the Dünya News, the works on the targets of the sector for the Green Deal and carbon zeroing were addressed.

TÜRKÇİMENTO continues its Anatolian Meetings to steer the sector and draw its future vision, under the title of “Builders of the Economy of Turkey.” The fourth of the meetings where the sector’s regional dynamics and its impacts on the economy of the country are discussed took place as hosted by Mersin. Dr. Tamer Saka, Chair of the Board of Directors of TÜRKÇİMENTO; Ayhan Kızıltan, President of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Umut Zenar, ÇİMSA General Manager, and Murat Kahya, MEDCEM Cement General Manager, participated as speakers in the meeting held in collaboration with the Dünya News. Suat Özyaprak, President of MENA Communication Agency, moderated the meeting.

Dr. Tamer Saka, Chair of the Board of Directors of TÜRKÇİMENTO, made the following statements regarding the works of the sector on sustainability:

“When it comes to the issue of sustainability, Turkey must first solve the Paris Agreement problem. With the resolution of the US for signing the agreement, a very limited number of countries remained among the ones that did not sign it. Turkey must not be among them. Support, technology, and investment are needed for Turkey to achieve its 2050 target. It is not clear how industries will receive support in this regard. It is important to clarify these issues for the sustainability of export markets and for safeguarding competitiveness.

A holistic approach and planning are important. Municipalities, central government, and multiple ministries must be a part of the solution. We are to create a model where all these stakeholders meet at a common point. We saw in the US that this issue has an owner at a minister level. We need coordination as well. The path we will follow, methods, and expectations must be discussed. As the sector, sustainability is not a matter of cosmetics for us; it is a reason for our existence. We support the Paris Agreement despite the costs it will bring along. It is an indicator of the importance we attach to the issue. We have been contemplating this issue and making investments in it. We have very seriously included the 2050 zero emission target into our agenda, as in all sectors. It is a long and thorny journey but a realistic target. We have a preparation in this regard as a Carbon Roadmap of the sector. It will be completed in one or two months.”

Ayhan Kızıltan, President of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the following regarding the region:
“Mersin is one of the provinces of exception. There are sectors with multiple identities here. As one of the important logistics centers of the world, we have a world’s town position. We are a city that is suitable for more development. We want that such development is planned in a holistic manner to cover all areas like logistics, industry, and agriculture. If it is realized, the way for the region will be paved. In such planning, the construction sector will also be reanimated. Plants will be built, there will be satellite towns, and villages will be rendered more modern. Economic and social life will improve.”

Stating that very important works are being carried out on the issue of sustainability, Umut Zenar, ÇİMSA General Manager, made the following assessment:
“In fact, as the sector, we cannot express ourselves. We have very important works in terms of sustainability. As Çimsa, we have set a serious target concerning waste utilization. We will nearly double our annual waste utilization ratios and it is indeed an environment-friendly approach. We have a waste heat investment in our Mersin Plant. The energy we produce from waste constitutes 20 percent of the total consumption of the plant. This is a serious figure. Sustainability is important to us.”

Murat Kahya, MEDCEM Cement General Manager, expressed that alternative fuel consumption can be increased, particularly with the use of municipal waste, and said the following:
“The sector prioritizes sustainability to a very serious extent. There are important investments made in the last 10 years. The thing that the sector has to do to reduce carbon emissions is clear: to ensure energy efficiency and increase the production of cement with admixtures and use of alternative fuels. There are works we are carrying out on these subjects. We are producing our own energy at a ratio of 22%. However, we have some setbacks when it comes to steering ourselves toward alternative fuels. In our country, it is very difficult to reach waste for fuel purposes. Therefore, we must conduct work on importing waste-derived fuel from abroad. The import in question is the import of fuel produced from non-hazardous matters. Ratio of use of them in the US is 44%. They also went through various processes of this kind to increase the alternative fuel utilization. We also need this support for a temporary period. Zero waste is a good target that must be achieved. We also expect support in this regard. Like the European countries, we must reduce the amount of regular waste storage. This way, we can increase the alternative fuel consumption, particularly with the use of municipal waste. These issues are primary issues for either sustainability or the competitive power of our sector in exports.”

Hakan Güldağ, an Executive of the Dünya News, made the following assessment regarding the green financing that takes place on the agenda of the entire world and the post-Covid-19 recovery period:
“Europe looks at the green transformation as something that will take place in any case, not the one that will be good if it does so. At this point, resources will be increased in the case of green financing. The biggest fund of the world has announced that all financing that it will grant will be tied to the green economy from now on. Production of projects that keep up with it will be important. It became clear that the post-Covid-19 economic recovery will be based on green transformation. By having the Paris Climate Agreement passed from the parliament, we must distinguish from the countries that are understood to have remained in the past century. When we were mentioning the newly ending of 4.0, 5.0 emerged. It is said 4.0 will continue, the issues of climate and sustainability will be on its focus. We must focus ourselves on it seriously. Turkey needs a serious transformation. Green technologies are serious technologies. All kinds of technology that reduce carbon emission tallies with the needs of Turkey. If it turns into a focused industry policy, it will provide us with an advantage.”

Vahap Munyar, the Dünya News General Coordinator, stated that Mersin is a significant logistics hub of Turkey and that Mersin has struck a blow in industry in addition to agriculture thanks to the port for the last 20 years. Specifying that the new airport to be built will carry Mersin to a more important point, Munyar underlined that the province is an important export center for the cement sector as well. Munyar mentioned the alternative fuel utilization of the cement sector and pointed out that the sector will reduce its carbon footprint thanks to it.