Bangkok, Thailand – Media Outreach Newswire – May 25, 2026 – The Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chulalongkorn University to pursue strategic cooperation on knowledge and technology with the support of international partners. The partnership aims to develop and operationalize carbon capture technologies in the Saraburi Sandbox, paving the way for industrial scale deployment and future policy development. This is an important step in laying the foundation for Thailand’s low-carbon industrial ecosystem and supporting the country’s Net Zero 2050 target.
TCMA Chairman Mr Surachai Nimala-Ya said the collaboration reflects the industrial sector’s active role in driving forward the country’s climate commitments through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The initiative brings together industry, academia, government, and international partners, including Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon cement industry in line with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap.
“This collaboration with Chulalongkorn University transforms our efforts into a long-term platform from knowledge development and workforce preparation to pilot-scale technology deployment. It will be strengthened by Canadian expertise and real-world testing in the Saraburi Sandbox, which will serve as a learning platform to develop scalable solutions for industrial application,” said Mr. Surachai.
Professor Dr. Willert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, emphasized the university’s role as a strategic knowledge partner in research and real-world implementation while fostering “green talent” to support industrial transformation.
“Chulalongkorn University sees this collaboration as a strategic mechanism to strengthen human capital development as well as the knowledge base in low-carbon technologies. It will enhance workforce capabilities to adapt to the transition and support Thailand’s long-term green economy” said Professor Dr. Willert.
His Excellency Ping Kitnikon, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand, expressed Canada’s strong support for this initiative, highlighting more than 65 years of bilateral relations and shared commitment to climate action.
The ambassador said, “This collaboration includes knowledge transfer, technology and expertise in greenhouse gas mitigation, particularly through technical experts and capacity building. Carbon capture technology will serve as a bridge between innovation and industrial application, helping to drive the transition towards a low carbon economy.”
On the government side, Dr. Pirun Sayasitpanich, Director General of the Climate Change and Environment Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said the cement industry is a strategic sector in reducing national greenhouse gas emissions towards Net Zero 2050, while strengthening climate resilience.
Dr. Pirun said, “This collaboration serves as a key policy mechanism linking project-level implementation to national-level action, with the Saraburi sandbox acting as a test bed for learning and development. The results will inform policy design and enable effective scaling up at the national level.”
Mr Tiratas Israngkul na Ayudhya, Deputy Director General of the Industrial Affairs Department of the Ministry of Industry, said the initiative is in line with the “One Mind” policy, which integrates regulation with the promotion of green industry.
“The Department stands ready to support this collaboration in developing a scalable industrial model that enhances Thailand’s competitiveness in a sustainability-driven global economy,” Mr Tiratas said.
Dr. Chana Poomi, Honorary President of TCMA and President of the ASEAN Federation of Cement Manufacturers (AFCM), highlighted the initiative as an important step in establishing Thailand as a “regional model” for industrial decarbonization.
“By integrating cross-sector collaboration through PPPs, linking policy, technology, knowledge and workforce development to real-world implementation, this initiative will establish the foundation of a low-carbon industrial ecosystem and evolve into a system-level model that can be scaled across the region,” he said.
This collaboration marks the starting point of Thailand’s low-carbon industrial ecosystem, connecting knowledge, technology, innovation, human capital and policy to real-world applications and commercial pathways. This is expected to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, strengthen climate resilience and enhance the country’s competitiveness in an increasingly sustainability-driven global landscape.
Hashtag: #TCMA#CementActionToNetZero#Decarbonization#NetZero2050#CarbonCapture#CCU#Technology#Innovation#CU#DCCE#DIW#AFCM
