At COP29, Thomas Guillot, CEO of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), spoke with Sal Jafar, CEO of ESG Mena about GCCA’s efforts to decarbonise the cement industry. Highlighting their Global Net Zero Roadmap, Guillot shared how innovative solutions are reshaping the future of sustainable construction.
The multilateral Climate Investment Funds announced that it will deploy up to $1bn in funding to decarbonise heavy-emitting industries this month, launching a call to developing countries to participate.
The industrial sector, including cement, steel, iron, and chemicals, currently represents one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions—a figure that is only set to rise in the coming decades, partly due to rising demand to support the renewable energy transition.
“The future depends on decarbonizing heavy emitting sectors. To meet our climate goals, we need industry’s emissions to decline by 20% by 2030 and 93% by 2050,” said Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO, Climate Investment Funds.
“Crucially, industrial decarbonization and green supply chain jobs can drive a just and prosperous transition. This is what CIF was created for, to accelerate technologies of the future to solve our greatest climate challenges,” added Gbadegesin.
This funding announcement is part of CIF’s Industry Decarbonization investment program, which it said encourages collaboration among businesses, governments, and multilateral development banks.
Indeed, for the first time, joint expressions of interest between public and private sector organisations will be accepted.
CIF also detailed that its concessional funding will be deployed through partner multilateral development banks.
The Industry Decarbonization program reportedly includes a dedicated private sector set-aside: up to 100 per cent of total financing can be assigned to projects led by the private sector or that crowd in significant private sector co-investments, with a minimum allocation of 50 per cent.
Commenting on the $1bn funding, Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth, African Development Bank, said: “The African Development Bank is fully committed to Africa’s Industry Decarbonization agenda, in line with our High5 priority focus area on “Industrialize Africa” and as indicated in our 2021-2030 Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Green Growth. In this regard, we are keen to partner with CIF in advancing industry decarbonization across developing nations, particularly in the African continent.
Nyong said the continent holds “immense potential for green industrialization,” which he said presents a “unique” opportunity to lower carbon emissions in Africa.
“By promoting industry decarbonization now, we can chart a sustainable course that fuels economic growth, leading to low-carbon development and net zero future. Through collaboration with governments and the private sector, we are committed to accelerating the adoption of low-carbon technologies and ensuring inclusive, green job creation.”
Aggreko has announced the launch of a new oil-free air compressor line. According to the company, its 100 per cent oil-free air compressors and air dryers are aimed at industries as diverse as petrochemicals, food and beverage, health care and pharmaceuticals.
Aggreko noted that having a large fleet of modular oil-free air compressors, dryers, and coolers at depots across the Middle East means it can “quickly” deliver tailor-made rental air solutions, with the solutions designed and built for the region to provide energy efficiencies.
According to the company, the Stage 3 engine provides a “significant increase” in run time, reliability and fuel efficiency with extended service intervals, equating to reduced fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs and less downtime.
Adam Read, Head of Sales – Middle East, Aggreko, said: “Aggreko have made large investments in our new fleet of oil-free air compressors to allow us to support increased customer demand in the Middle East for clean, reliable, oil-free air typically demanded in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and Refining, Manufacturing & Food industries. The units are now available in stock and come equipped with low-emission Stage 3 diesel engines to further support our ‘Energising Change’ strategy and to allow us to assist our customers in reducing emissions in their operations.”
Adding: “A range of dryers are available to further treat the air, and our equipment is never used in combination with non-oil-free compressors or dryers, coolers, or components such as hoses or regulators which could have been exposed to oil-laden air.”
Read noted that all of the company’s air compressors are equipped with Aggreko Remote Monitoring sensor units, which can be linked to its Remote Operations Centre.
At the Centre, its team of engineers and technicians monitor the equipment 24/7 to avoid preventable failures, minimise downtime, accelerate troubleshooting, and enable equipment right-sizing, Read explained.
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC—Masdar and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have forged an alliance to collaborate on aluminium decarbonisation and low-carbon aluminium growth opportunities.
EGA produces one-in-every-25 tonnes of aluminium made worldwide. However, aluminium production is energy-intensive, and generating the electricity required using fossil fuels accounts for about 60 per cent of the global aluminium industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.
As such, through the partnership, the two will explore the joint development of renewable energy projects, with potential battery storage and green hydrogen production and storage, to support the decarbonisation of EGA’s existing and future operations in the country.
The partnership will also see them work together internationally to find opportunities for Masdar to support EGA in powering new aluminium production facilities with renewable energy sources.
Mohamed Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, commented: “Masdar is proud to be collaborating with EGA to help decarbonise the aluminium production process. Strong partnerships such as this are exactly what the world needs to accelerate our path to Net Zero. When organisations combine their knowledge and resources to help decarbonise vital industries, we not only protect the environment but we also boost the economy. This is core to our mission at Masdar. We look forward to developing further compelling propositions for international markets to maximise the economic benefits of using renewable energy.”
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium plays an essential role in decarbonisation economy-wide, which is why demand for this metal has the potential to grow by as much as 80 per cent by 2050. Fulfilling this potential depends on how sustainably aluminium is made.”
Adding: “EGA’s alliance with Masdar, another UAE industrial champion and a global leader in clean energy, should unlock opportunities to decarbonise our existing operations including further expanding our production of CelestiAL solar aluminium, and secure low-carbon growth. We are already exploring opportunities together, and I look forward to working with Masdar both in the UAE and around the world.”
