Industry Ministry says cement initiatives cut costs, address structural hurdles

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, said that the ministry’s efforts and initiatives to develop the cement sector in the Kingdom have begun to deliver tangible cost reductions, in addition to lowering emissions and enhancing the operational performance of cement plants.

On behalf of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, he delivered the opening speech at the Cemtech MEA 2026 international cement conference held in Riyadh, highlighting the importance of the cement sector as a fundamental material for national development, infrastructure, and industrial growth, and the responsibility to ensure its efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability.

Al-Mudaifer explained that the ministry is working to accelerate efficiency improvements at Saudi cement plants, adopt technological transformation, and promote low-carbon production across the value chain through several programs and initiatives.

These include the Future Factories Program, transformation programs to connect plants to the electricity grid, the use of alternative liquid fuels, the production of modern high-quality products with lower clinker content, as well as the localization and training of the sector’s workforce through Yanbu Industrial Academy (YIC).

Al-Mudaifer added that efforts are ongoing to address structural challenges, foremost among them excess production capacity and the opening of new export opportunities, with a focus on building a sustainable cement sector that supports Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and meets global sustainability aspirations.

He stressed the Kingdom’s aim to lead the regional transformation of the cement sector in cooperation with manufacturers, relevant entities, specialized associations, and technology providers.