The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, organized a workshop entitled: “Cement Decarbonization in Saudi Arabia – Pathways to 2060.”
In his opening speech to the workshop, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Mining Development, Musad al-Daoud said the Kingdom has a vital cement sector that would contribute to achieving its sustainability vision and goals to reach carbon neutrality.
Daoud pointed out that the demand for cement is expected to rise in the coming years due to the size of the mega projects planned or underway in Saudi Arabia, which will increase the need to take urgent measures to reduce carbon emissions from the cement industry.
He reviewed the detailed study of the cement sector in the Kingdom, which the Ministry prepared.
It touched on several key issues, including environmental sustainability. Among its outputs was establishing a joint research center between mining companies and universities to develop green industries for several sectors, such as cement, phosphates, and aluminum.
Workshop host Prof. Bassam Dally, from the Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC), said, “decarbonization of the cement industry is essential to reach the Kingdom’s targets.”
He added that decarbonization could also bring new opportunities, and new markets mean new technology and rethinking existing processes are needed.
Vice President for Research at KAUST, Professor Pierre Magistretti explained that “the university is addressing critical challenges in decarbonization as part of its commitment to the circular carbon economy national platform.
“Cement is a key in which we strive to offer innovative solutions due to its economic importance to the Kingdom and its 2060 carbon neutrality target,” said Magistretti.
Several high-ranking officials and figures participated in the workshop, including government, industry, and academia, who shared their plans and views on three main topics: fuel substitution, clinker blending, and carbon capture.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest cement producers in the Middle East, the eighth in the world in this industry, with several mega projects underway in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom’s production is currently about 70 million tons annually. An increase requires the development of the cement production sector in modern and environmentally friendly ways during which carbon emissions are removed in a sustainable and controlled manner.
