Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Board of Directors Member Şaban A. Karamehmetoğlu, after his opening speech, made evaluations about the current situation of the sector with the Council Members.

Giving information about the work carried out as TOBB for the transition to a green and circular economy, Karamehmetoğlu stated that they are aware of the importance of the EU green deal process, which is also closely related to the sector.

Karamehmetoğlu stated that the carbon regulation mechanism at the border and also the Draft Climate Law, which is still being prepared, are the most striking legislations in this process, and at this point, he requested that the draft and secondary legislation arrangements be given reasonable time when sharing with the sectors.

Fatih Yücelik, Turkey Cement and Cement Products Council President, stated that more investments should be made in the cement sector at optimum cost and high efficiency, and that they are working to increase the use of alternative fuels in the sector and to spread the use of renewable energy.

Evaluating the developments in the last 3 months, Fatih Yücelik stated that after the Russia-Ukraine crisis, there were problems in the supply of coal, especially in the cement sector. Stating that there were large increases in electricity, petrocoke, imported and domestic lignite in May 2022 compared to May of last year, he stated that these increases forced industrialists, considering that 80% of the costs in the cement sector were energy-related.

Stating that it has become necessary to make more investments to meet domestic consumption, Fatih Yücelik pointed out that both the roadmap and regulations for the European Green Deal and the commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement oblige the sector to increase the use of alternative fuels and make renewable energy investments.

Dr. Ömer Erdem, General Director of Energy Affairs of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Dr. Abdullah Buğrahan Karaveli, Head of Energy Efficiency and Environment Department, who attended the meeting, on the agenda item “Energy investments, the latest situation in energy supply security and evaluations on the possible problems to be experienced” were discussed by Orhan Solak, Head of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and Eyüp Kaan Moralı, Head of Carbon Market Department on “Climate Law and National Emission Trading System” current developments/preparations" made evaluations with the Council Members regarding the agenda item.