المملكة: Accelerated global growth…demand for cement exceeds 5.5 billion tons in 2030
On December 8 and 9, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) hosted the annual national workshop of the Future Cement Initiative (FCI), with the participation of more than 200 regulators, industry leaders and researchers.
Participants discussed paths to preparing a national roadmap For low-emission, high-performance cementas part of the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance industrial sustainability.
New opportunities to reduce emissions
During the workshop, KAUST presented the preliminary results of the first year of the initiative, which revealed new opportunities to reduce emissions and improve the competitiveness of the sector.
Cement is one of the materials that consumes the highest carbon globally, and with global demand expected to rise from 4.37 billion tons in 2025 to more than 5.5 billion tons in 2030, The industry is facing increasing pressure to adopt Innovative solutions support decarbonization efforts.
Domestic demand is also expected to reach about 80 million tons annually by 2030, driven by rapid growth in the housing and industrial sectors and major national projects.
KAUST researchers noted that several types of local clay show promising potential for inclusion in Cement mixtures are sustainable, allowing for reduced dependence on "“Clinker” is emissions-intensive while maintaining the strength of materials used in the construction sector.
Promising local indicators
The workshop program witnessed training sessions, research presentations, and discussion panels that addressed mechanisms for modernizing the cement sector to align with the economic and environmental priorities of the Kingdom.
On the second day, the university leadership held a meeting with national bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, represented by His Excellency Engineer Turki Al-Babtain, to discuss carbon removal paths, circular economy models, and carbon management, in addition to emerging technologies that may shape the future. Sector.
The workshop also discussed research results related to the ability of concrete produced in the Kingdom to absorb carbon dioxide during its period of use.
Studies indicate that the characteristics of the warm climate and humidity patterns in the region may contribute to accelerating the rate of absorption compared to many regions of the world, which helps in improving the accuracy of calculating emissions, setting new standards for materials, and developing long-term plans for infrastructure.
In parallel, KAUST researchers are working on developing advanced additives to materials and technical improvements aimed at increasing durability and performance. Low-carbon cement.
These solutions – along with circular materials and AI-powered modeling tools – form part of broader efforts to support the Kingdom’s shift towards a more efficient and sustainable construction sector.
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