Amid growing climate pressures and intensifying global competition, Thailand's cement industry is accelerating its transformation by integrating policy, technology, innovation, energy transition, circular economy, and digitalization into practical implementation; enhancing competitiveness while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of TCMA, stated that "The NEXT Chapter" represents a critical inflection point for the industry, guided by the principle of being "competitive, growth-oriented, and low-carbon." TCMA is advancing this transition through five key engines:
- Policy - Strengthening carbon governance frameworks, including carbon pricing, emissions trading systems, and green procurement, alongside standards and incentives to create an enabling investment environment.
- Transition - Advancing low-carbon technologies across the value chain, including calcined clay cement, new supplementary cementitious materials, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), through international collaboration.
- Energy - Increasing the share of clean energy and alternative fuels, while improving production efficiency to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Circular - Promoting the circular economy through co-processing in cement kilns, utilizing waste as alternative inputs to reduce landfill and emissions.
- Digital & AI - Enhancing system-wide efficiency, improving precision, reducing energy use, and increasing productivity through digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
"The core of 'The NEXT Chapter' is 'accelerating collaborative action'; connecting policy, technology, and investment to deliver measurable and scalable impact," said Mr. Surachai. He added that TCMA continues to advance SARABURI SANDBOX, a low-carbon city pilot that serves as a testing ground for innovative technologies and mechanisms before scaling at the national and regional levels.
The implementation of the 5 Engines to Net Zero reflects the industry's transition from a traditional producer to a solution provider in addressing climate change, reinforcing the role of Thailand's cement industry as a key driver in the country's pathway toward Net Zero 2050.