The domestic cement industry is taking a major step toward reducing carbon emissions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive sectors through a long-term strategy aimed at promoting more sustainable operations.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 30, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said it recently launched the Philippine Cement and Concrete Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap to help reduce emissions across the cement industry.

CeMAP president John Reinier Dizon said the roadmap provides a clear strategy for the industry to cut emissions while continuing to support the country’s economic growth and infrastructure development.

“It ensures that as our nation continues to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and other vital infrastructure, we do so with lower carbon emissions, greater efficiency, enhanced competitiveness, and stronger resilience,” he said.

Dizon said the roadmap serves as a practical, science-based guide for the industry’s decarbonization journey, targeting a reduction in the use of carbon-intensive cement clinker.

From about 75 percent in 2024, the industry aims to reduce its clinker ratio to 58 percent by 2050. To achieve this, CeMAP plans to expand the use of supplementary cementitious materials while eventually deploying carbon capture technologies.

By 2050, the industry also aims to increase the use of alternative fuels and renewable energy (RE) to 36 percent from 13 percent in 2024.

Alongside improvements in energy efficiency, the cement industry is seeking to expand the production of low-carbon cement as part of its broader emissions reduction strategy.

With the roadmap, CeMAP said the Philippines has become one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to develop a comprehensive national decarbonization strategy jointly endorsed by the government and the industry.

The roadmap was developed with support from the Canadian government through Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“The roadmap represents a landmark achievement for the Philippine cement and concrete industry, providing a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring the continued production of high-quality cement needed to support the country’s infrastructure, housing, and economic development,” CeMAP said. - Dexter Barro II