The Cement Industry Marches Confidently Towards Green Transformation

In a webinar where new support mechanisms presented by the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Industry and Technology, Directorate General for Strategic Research and Efficiency were evaluated for the Turkish cement sector, the current state of the industry, its future, the challenges faced, and steps to be taken for the green transformation process were discussed.

In his opening speech, TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay emphasized that thanks to its production in line with international standards, the Turkish cement sector is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Bozay also noted that the sector continues to rank second globally in cement and clinker exports. He stated:
"With 56 integrated and 21 grinding plants across Turkey, the Turkish cement sector has a total capacity of 120 million tons. In the January-May 2024 period, cement production increased by 17.1%. During this period, domestic sales increased by 26%, while exports decreased by 10.5%. After a 20% growth in 2023, the sector started 2024 with an increase in the domestic market and a decline in exports."

The main topics of the webinar were the "HAMLE," "Green Transformation Support Program," and "HIT 30" projects prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. These projects aim to support R&D investments, increase energy efficiency, and promote the use of advanced technology fuels such as hydrogen, which are of great importance to the sector. Additionally, it was emphasized that the cement sector should actively participate in these projects to comply with regulations and operate in collaboration with the government on the path to green transformation.

At the end of the meeting, industry representatives stated that they would closely monitor the contributions of these projects to the sector. They emphasized that government support for the sector is critical in terms of low-carbon production, energy efficiency, and technological investments.

The webinar concluded efficiently with presentations by Ministry of Industry and Technology officials and comments from the participants.