On 24 April 2025, the Decarbonisation in Industry Component of the Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Transport, and Climate (TGC EMC), implemented by GIZ Thailand, organised a workshop with the aim of developing an action plan to support the decarbonisation roadmap in the cement industry. The event brought together Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) representatives from various working groups. Participants discussed priority ‘Pilot Measures’ and explored scaling opportunities within the Saraburi Sandbox pilot area.

Phattharawan Sukkantharak, Executive Director of TCMA

During the workshop, Phattharawan Sukkantharak, Executive Director of the TCMA, emphasised that reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the industrial sector required collaboration from all stakeholders ¬– including private sector actors and regulatory agencies in energy, the environment and industry as well as international development partners. She further noted that the association placed a strong emphasis on the adoption of clean technology, supportive policy frameworks, and capacity building for companies. By working with TGC EMC, Thailand’s cement sector could be driven towards a more structured and systemic low-carbon transition, while also creating a replicable model for other industrial sectors in the future.

As part of the workshop, participants joined breakout sessions to share in-depth ideas on how to develop pilot measures for GHG reduction in the cement industry. In addition to demand flexibility and clean energy integration, discussions focused particularly on the use of alternative fuels – especially refuse-derived fuel (RDF), biomass, and green methanol. Green methanol was highlighted as a potential downstream product from carbon capture processes, which relies on renewable hydrogen for its production. It could also serve as an alternative fuel for marine transport or as a chemical feedstock in downstream industries.

Participants also proposed various strategies to overcome the current challenges and drive implementation. These included the development of infrastructure for fuel and energy, the establishment of standardised pricing schemes for alternative fuels, and systematic waste zoning plans. In addition, they recommended promoting investment incentives, such as carbon pricing mechanisms and financial support from the government to encourage the industrial sector to adopt and scale up low-carbon technologies.

Funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) under Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the TGC EMC project supports Thailand’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Through its five components – Renewable Energy, Transport, Decarbonisation in Industry, Biomass, and Climate Finance (ThaiCI), TGC EMC facilitates technology transfer, policy development, and business model innovation through a sector-coupling approach.