Waste Heat Recovery Facility, which was one of the most important rings of the investment chain focused on sustainable growth of Akcansa, leader of the Turkish Cement sector, was put in to operation through a ceremony that took place with participation of Taner Yildiz, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Akcansa Waste Heat Recovery Facility, which is the first of its kind in Turkey and one with the largest capacity in Europe, will annually produce 105 million KWh of energy from wasted heat resulted from clinker production process in Canakkale Plant.

Hakan Gurdal, Akcansa’s General Manager, pointed out that they trailed the blaze once again with this facility, which is funded with 24 million dollars of investment. He said: “We will supply 30% of energy need of our Canakkale plant from waste heat. Our facility not only will conserve energy for Akcansa but it will also create added value for Turkish economy. It will also contribute to creating a better world by preventing annual carbon dioxide emission of 60 thousand tons.”

Mehmet Gocmen, Cement Group President of Sabancı Holding said: “These types of investments are very important to protect competition environment in cement sector in Turkey with its growing economy.”

Zafer Kurtul, Sabancı Holding CEO stated that our near geography provides attractive opportunities in cement sector and said: ”We are evaluating these opportunities with our partner”.

Dr. Bernd Scheifele, President of HeidelbergCement Board of Directors, mentioned they are planning to develop further their cooperation, continuing since 15 years, with Sabanci Group.

Akcansa that has been leading the Turkish cement sector for about 40 years to increase life quality in our country put in to operation its Waste Heat Recovery Facility in Canakkale with goal of sustainable future.

The opening ceremony of the Waste Heat Recovery Facility with 24 million dollar investment was held with participation of Huseyin Kulözü, Deputy Governor of Canakkale, Zafer Kurtul, CEO of Sabanci Holding, Dr. Bernd Scheifele, President of HeidelbergCement’s Board of Directors, Mehmet Gocmen, Cement Group President of Sabanci Holding, Daniel Gauthier, Assistant President of Akcansa Board of Directors, Emir Adiguzel, member of Akcansa Board of Directors, Hakan Gurdal, Akcansa General Manager and Akcansa employees and members of public.

Akcansa is leading the sector once again…

Hakan Gurdal, General Manager of Akcansa, who pointed out that Akcansa has set sustainable success that will make it possible to take use of natural resources optimally in a way that would make it possible for future generations to meet their needs and develop themselves, as its main goal, said: “This facility that was implemented with a 24 million investment is our largest project after our 2nd production line established in 2008 in Canakkale plant. The facility that has a capacity of 15.2 MW will annually produce 105 MW of electric energy and it will supply 30% of the electricity used in our Canakkale plant. We are proud of establishing the first facility in Turkish Industry that produces electricity from waste heat in Akcansa. This facility also has the specification of being first of its kind in our close by geographical area and the largest of its kind in Europe.”

Gurdal, who mentioned that this facility will prevent carbon dioxide emission equal to 60,000 tons of CO2 emission per year and this also is equal to the oxygen produced by 2.7 million trees per year, continues his speech saying:

“We applied to  register our facility at Voluntary Emission Reduction –VER. We are waiting to complete the process of receiving Gold Standard Certificate, which is a highly prestigious certificate and considers public and social values as a principal, by sometime in mid October. After completion of 1 year observation period following obtaining this certificate, we will be able to obtain our certificate for carbon credit.  This will help us generate annual revenue of 262,000 Euros from carbon trades. We will lead an important portion of this number towards out social projects as well.”

The Waste Heat Recovery Facility will contribute to energy efficiency

Mehmet Gocmen, Cement Group President of Sabancı Holding, mentioned in his speech that cement sector, is one of the locomotive sectors in Turkish economy and is in a position to go at decreasing the energy consumption.

Gocmen said: “If we wanted to produce the 105 million KWh energy produced in this facility using coal in a thermal central, we should have burnt 47 thousand tons of coal or equal amount of natural gas or oil. These types of investments are very important to protect competition environment in cement sector in Turkey with its growing economy.”

Akçansa aims to be the regional leader

Sabancı Holding CEO, Zafer Kurtul mentioned in his speech that they evaluate cement sector as one the most strategic sectors and notes that Akçansa aims to be the regional leader. Kurtul said:

and they continue their efforts to purchase a cement company inside the country or in a foreign country with the goal of regional leadership. Kurtul said:“ As a cement company with powerful balance and strong flow like us, our near geography provides attractive oppotunuties. We have been evaluating possible opportunities with our partner”

HeidelbergCement: Turkish Market is still attractive for us…

Dr. Bernd Scheifele, President of HeidelbergCement Board of Directors, who mentioned that Turkish cement sector is catching the attention particularly with its export power, said that they are planning to develop further their cooperation with Sabanci Group.

Dr. Scheifele, who draw attention by saying HeidelbergCement have a sustainability understanding based on 3 fundamental approaches including ecology, economy and social responsibility, said:

“Our sustainable strategy for 2020 focuses on climate protection, providing positive contribution to bio-diversity, working to make the aforementioned sustainable and projects for recycling waste sources. We shared our goals in this direction with public in our Sustainability report, which was published recently. At this point, we highly value the Waste Heat Recovery Facility established by Akcansa.”