The Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) presented its progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions with hydraulic cement at the GCCA CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference 2023 in Zurich, Switzerland. They also highlighted a new initiative, the Public-Private Partnership model, aimed at fostering collaboration among all stakeholders. This initiative, called the 'PPP-Saraburi Sandbox: A Low Carbon City,' is designed to support Thailand's BCG approach and its net-zero goal.
Dr. Chana Poomee, Chairman of the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), revealed that TCMA recently shared its progress on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction as part of the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap. This presentation took place at the Global Cement and Concrete Association CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference 2023 in Zurich, Switzerland. The conference, themed 'Our Future Industry Delivering and Prospering Through the Net Zero Transition,' emphasised the importance of tangible policy implementation and aligned the Thai cement industry with the global direction.
During the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed GCCA members via teleconference. He emphasised the vital role of the cement industry in infrastructure development, noting that three-quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. Guterres invited all cement manufacturers worldwide to accelerate their actions to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C, as outlined in the GCCA 2050 Cement and Concrete Industry Roadmap for Net Zero. The United Nations expressed its readiness to support the cement industry in this transition.
As a member of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), TCMA has been actively collaborating with the organisation. At the conference, TCMA shared its roadmap implementation progress with cement manufacturers from around the world. This progress is the result of collaboration among multiple sectors, including government, industry, private entities, academic institutions, and local administrations, all working towards achieving the GHG reduction target through the increased use of hydraulic cement—a low-carbon cement. These efforts align with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30.3 million tons of CO2 by 2050.
"At the conference, the Thai cement industry received praise from GCCA members for its successful collaboration with all stakeholders and progress in reducing GHG emissions. One notable achievement is the promotion of hydraulic cement as a substitute for Portland cement, which has positioned Thailand for a new era of low-carbon cement starting January 1, 2024. Moreover, a Public-Private Partnership initiative has been introduced, along with its pilot project 'PPP-Saraburi Sandbox: A Low-Carbon City,' which serves as a use case for GHG reduction models in line with Thailand's NDC. The pilot project fosters collaboration among the industrial sector, government, professionals, private and social entities, and business groups in Saraburi province, with plans to expand best practices to other provinces," stated Dr. Chana.
Thanks to perseverance, dedication, clear operational policies, and support from all stakeholders, TCMA has made tangible progress in reducing GHG emissions, gaining the trust and confidence of GCCA. As a result, Thailand has been chosen as the host country for the GCCA CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference 2024, a significant event gathering over 200 senior executives and global cement manufacturers, scheduled to take place on June 4-6, 2024, in Bangkok.
"TCMA is delighted that Thailand has been entrusted with hosting the upcoming GCCA CEO Gathering and Leaders Conference 2024—an important conference that brings together senior executives and global cement manufacturers from GCCA in Bangkok. The conference will focus on the essential role of the cement and concrete industry in delivering the net-zero transition and addressing the global agenda. On behalf of TCMA, I would like to express our gratitude to the government, TCMA members, and all stakeholders for their collaborative efforts, which have yielded impressive results and earned Thailand the honour of hosting this global cement conference in Bangkok next year," concluded Dr. Chana, Chairman of TCMA.