Ministry of Industry Explains Decarbonisation Efforts in the Cement Industry
The Ministry of Industry has recorded a decline in emissions in the cement industry in line with the net zero emission (NZE) target for the industrial sector by 2050. “We are optimistic that the national industry, particularly the cement sector, will be able to continue improving efficiency while strengthening its competitiveness in the global market through the implementation of green industry principles,” said Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in a written statement on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. The Ministry of Industry has noted a reduction in the clinker factor to 68.1% from a baseline of 81% in 2010. In addition, the Ministry of Industry has recorded an increase in the use of alternative energy or thermal substitution rate (TSR) to 12.58% from the previous 3%. Specific emissions in the cement industry have been reduced to 566.3 kilograms of CO2 per tonne of equivalent cement. This figure is lower than the initial condition of 724 kg of CO2 per tonne of cement. Agus stated that the cement industry sector is one of the main focuses of the national decarbonisation agenda. This is because Indonesia, as the largest cement producer in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 121.66 million tonnes per year, plays a strategic role in emission reduction efforts. To achieve emission reductions, Agus said that the Ministry of Industry is preparing a decarbonisation roadmap for the cement industry as a structured implementation guide. Broadly speaking, the overall industrial decarbonisation strategy focuses on emission reduction efforts before entering the emission neutralisation stage. The Golkar politician assessed that emission reduction is more effective in gradually and sustainably suppressing the industry’s carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the Head of the Agency for Standards and Industrial Services Policy, Emmy Suryandari, stated that the implementation of the decarbonisation strategy is carried out through five main pillars. These five pillars include energy and raw material efficiency through optimisation of the production process, followed by fuel and raw material substitution. In addition, decarbonisation efforts are carried out through process renewal using more efficient technology, electrification, and the application of carbon capture utilisation (CCU) technology. To support industrial transformation, the Ministry of Industry is using the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap and implementing Green Industry Standards (SIH) to encourage efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.