Austria's cement consumption collapses by a quarter – industry warns of failure to meet 2040 climate targets

The Austrian cement industry nevertheless sees itself well positioned on climate protection. At 467 kilograms of CO2 per tonne of cement, domestic production is among the lowest-emission worldwide, the VÖZ emphasizes. At the same time, specific CO2 intensity fell below the 470-kilogram mark for the first time. However, the sector's absolute CO2 emissions rose by 2.6 percent to 2.14 million tonnes, which is explained by higher clinker production.

Climate balance: low intensity, rising total emissions

The association puts the substitute fuel rate at 88.8 percent. "Lokale Abfallkreisläufe liefern heute die Energie für die Klinkerproduktion, fossile Brennstoffe wurden zu rund 90 Prozent aus den Zementwerken verdrängt." Overall, the domestic cement industry recycles around 550 kilograms of substitute materials per tonne of cement produced. Twenty-five percent of the raw materials used came from recycled construction debris from old buildings.

Despite this progress, Spaun does not see the central prerequisites for the 2040 climate target as being met. "Die Transformation hin zu „Nullemissionen" sei geplant und technologisch machbar", sagte er. But without a legal framework and the establishment of a CO2 pipeline system including storage sites, the target remains an illusion. "Ohne CO2-Speicher, Pipelines und leistbaren Industriestrom bleiben Nullemissionen bis 2040 ein Wunschtraum."

Demand to policymakers: pipelines, storage, industrial electricity

The industry has for years been criticizing the lack of political decisions. "Politische Lippenbekenntnisse höre die Branche seit Jahren." A cement plant that has neither a connection to a CO2 pipeline nor suitable storage sites – such as depleted natural gas or oil fields in the immediate vicinity – faces insurmountable hurdles on the path to decarbonization toward "zero emissions."

For assessing progress in the transformation, CO2 intensity is considered the central metric, as it relates emissions to the quantity produced. Raw materials such as limestone and clay are burned at temperatures exceeding 1,400 degrees Celsius; the bulk of emissions is generated chemically through the decarbonization of limestone. Clinker production is the heart of cement manufacturing and simultaneously the main cause of CO2 emissions.

Technology pathway and timeline

The industry has done its homework, Spaun emphasizes: "Die österreichische Zementindustrie hat ihre Hausaufgaben gemacht und investiert seit Jahren hunderte Millionen Euro in Dekarbonisierung, Kreislaufwirtschaft und innovative CO2-Abscheidungstechnologien." The VÖZ flagship companies are thus securing the foundation of modern infrastructure and regional value creation with domestic raw materials, along short supply chains, and with a growing use of recycled materials.

On the timeline, the association is skeptical. Transport and storage of CO2 will be available in Austria at the earliest from 2040, "weil zentrale Voraussetzungen fehlen und Österreich beim Aufbau der notwendigen Infrastruktur eklatant hinterherhinkt". Until then, the cement industry remains dependent, in its own assessment, on political framework conditions: "Die Branche ist bereit zu investieren und bekennt sich klar zu den Klimazielen. Jetzt ist die Politik gefordert, die notwendigen Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen."