Fatih Yücelik, Chairman of the Board of TÜRKÇİMENTO, Appears as a Guest in a Live Broadcast

Fatih Yücelik, Chairman of the Board of TÜRKÇİMENTO, became the live broadcast guest of Zeliha Saraç in the program "60 Dakika (60 Minutes)" aired on Bloomberg HT TV on Monday, 28 March.

In his statement about the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the sector, Yücelik said, “As we often say in every channel, fuel and electrical energy constitute the biggest cost item in cement production. This cost item, which is nearly 80%, poses a negative impact on our sector in this period, in which energy shortages are experienced in the world. Namely, in February 2022, petcoke prices increased by 500% compared to the same period of the previous year. Electricity increased by 220% and imported coal prices by 400%. 

Again in February 2022, we saw a 70% rise in domestic lignite. The dollar rate, which was 7,1 TL in the same period of the previous year, increased to 13,7 TL in February 2022, with an increase of 93%. The Chinese crisis, which started last year, unfortunately, culminated with Russia this year. There are coals whose ships are waiting in ports. This inflicts problems both on the price and supply side in the medium term, for sure.” 

Yücelik underlined that the hope of the sector grew higher following the meeting with Mehmet Muş, the Minister of Trade, and said that he believed that a solution concerning the issue would be found.

Yücelik answered the question of Zeliha Saraç, who asked about what is waiting for the sector and its alternative in the event that the problems experienced in coal supply continue, as follows:

“We will not be able to produce if we fail to find coal. Our members are stockpiling coal for a short time. We can say that production will discontinue when this coal is finished. We need to import waste-derived fuel temporarily for a certain period in order to reduce our dependence on Russia and continue production. The game must in any case be replayed to provide alternatives. Our talks with our Ministries on this issue are ongoing.”

Highlighting the support needed by the sector, Yücelik said, “We have a technology for recovery of waste heat released out of chimneys. This meets a plant’s electricity of around 30-40%. In addition, we in any case need support to use solar energy in plants. As a sector, we are ready in such a fashion that we can provide our own energy and take action very fast.”