ADİL SANİ KONUKOĞLU ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF TOBB CEMENT AND CEMENT PRODUCTS COUNCIL

Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Chairman of the Board of TÜRKÇİMENTO, has been elected Chairman of the TOBB (The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye) Cement and Cement Products Council. Konukoğlu emphasized that the sector will continue its efforts through collective wisdom and cooperation in line with its goals of green transformation, digitalization, and sustainable growth.

Following the election held during the Meeting of the TOBB Cement and Cement Products Council, Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Chairman of the Board of TÜRKÇİMENTO, was elected Chairman of the TOBB Cement and Cement Products Council.

Commenting after the election, Konukoğlu stated:

“I am honored to assume the role of Chairman of the TOBB Cement and Cement Products Council. Our industry is undergoing a significant transformation across multiple areas, ranging from green transition and digitalization to sustainability and international competitiveness. Together with all our stakeholders under the umbrella of our Council, we will continue to work with determination to enhance the competitiveness of our industry, support its sustainable growth, and contribute to the development goals of our country.”

During the meeting, Konukoğlu also shared his assessment of the current state and future outlook of the sector. He noted that global economic fluctuations, rising energy costs, climate policies, and evolving trade regulations are reshaping production models worldwide, and emphasized that the Turkish cement industry is preparing for this transformation through strong investments.

According to TÜRKÇİMENTO data, total cement production reached 97.8 million tonnes in 2025. Domestic sales amounted to 82.2 million tonnes, while exports totaled 15.6 million tonnes. Highlighting that approximately 16% of total cement production was exported, Konukoğlu noted that the sector continues to demonstrate strong performance in terms of production capacity, export strength, and domestic market dynamism.

“Triple Transformation Forms the Roadmap of Our Industry”

Konukoğlu stated that the cement industry is experiencing one of the most comprehensive transformation processes in its history. He emphasized that the sector’s priorities are centered on three key pillars: green transformation, digital transformation, and human-centered transformation.

Describing this process as a “triple transformation,” Konukoğlu noted that digitalization, data-driven management, artificial intelligence applications, and advanced production technologies have become key drivers of change in areas ranging from energy efficiency to carbon emission reduction.

He further underlined that the Turkish cement industry continues its sustainability investments with determination. Today, waste heat recovery facilities installed across 27 production lines in 17 plants generate a total of 164.5 MW of power.

Thanks to these investments, the sector has achieved an energy generation capacity equivalent to the daily electricity consumption of approximately 2.6 million people. He also noted that around 10% of the sector’s electricity demand is supplied through sustainable sources, including waste heat recovery, solar energy, and wind power.

Green Cement Targets Take Center Stage

Emphasizing the importance of increasing alternative fuel utilization rates, reducing clinker content, and expanding the adoption of low-carbon next-generation production technologies in line with Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero emissions target, Konukoğlu stated that the use of green cement plays a critical role in the sector’s transformation.

He noted that efforts are underway to encourage the use of green cement in public infrastructure projects and announced that the sector aims to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 11 million tonnes over the next decade.

International Cooperation Continues to Strengthen

In his remarks, Konukoğlu also referred to the strategic cooperation being developed with the China Cement Association. He stated that combining Türkiye’s strong production infrastructure with China’s expertise in digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for the industry.

Konukoğlu added that future cooperation is expected to focus on technology sharing, pilot projects, joint training programs, and expert exchange initiatives. These efforts, he noted, will also support the sector’s adaptation to global mechanisms such as Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) and carbon border adjustment regulations.