The World Cement Association’s CEO, Ian Riley, has immediately expressed his opinions about the most recent investment round under the UK Government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF). The development of low-carbon technology is aided by this funding, which lowers energy expenses for companies and speeds up their transition to more environmentally friendly industrial processes.
The World Cement Association’s CEO, Ian Riley, says:
“The most recent financing round from the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is a big step towards encouraging low-carbon innovation across industries. Businesses may now make a significant contribution to the UK’s net-zero objectives because to the IETF’s backing of revolutionary technologies like large-scale carbon capture.
One cannot stress how urgent it is to decarbonise the cement sector. Since the industry accounts for 8% of all CO₂ emissions worldwide, urgent action is needed, especially since 2024 was the first year when global warming exceeded the 1.5°C barrier. The CCS project by Hanson Cement is a prime example of the forceful action required to address this issue and shows how carbon capture technology may be used to reduce emissions. Since CCS is the only scalable and practical option to decarbonise cement production at the moment, it provides the best chance of drastically lowering the carbon footprint of the sector.
Global demand for cement and clinker is expected to drastically decrease by 2050, according to the most recent white paper from the World Cement Association. Nevertheless, the industry continues to rank among the biggest industrial emitters of CO₂, and the magnitude of emissions from the remaining output calls for the quick adoption of low-carbon binders for concrete, increased use of alternative fuels, and technologies like CCS. These actions are crucial for reducing the significant carbon footprint that endures even when output slows down, and they go beyond just supplying demand in a more sustainable manner. Accelerating the shift to a decarbonised future will require strong policy support and industry cooperation.