Limiting the impact of occurring climate change continues to be a top priority for the activities of TITAN Zlatna Panega a subsidiary of TITAN Cement a leading international cement and building materials company. In 2022, the cement plant reduced its specific gross carbon dioxide emissions by 3% compared to the previous year. To achieve this the company increased its substitution of conventional (fossil) fuels with alternative fuels to almost 50%.
This is shown by the data from the ninth Integrated Annual Report of TITAN Bulgaria. It covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2022, and has been evaluated by an independent audit firm under the International criteria.
“In 2022, TITAN Zlatna Panega faced significant economic challenges as a result of the energy price escalation that followed the Ukrainian crisis. Despite this, we continued the implementation of our decarbonization roadmap. In accordance with it in 2022 we made significant investments for the modernization of the alternative fuel kiln feeding line, aiming at increasing AF substitution to 70% and we are progressing with the construction of a 5 MW solar plant. As a response to the Ukrainian crisis and the risk of discontinuity of natural gas supply, Titan Zlatna Panega not only reduced its gas consumption significantly, but it eliminated its dependence on natural gas. In the meantime, we have ensured the technical possibility to switch to other fuels such as diesel or propane shall the need arise. ” – commented Adamantios Frantzis, General Manager of TITAN Bulgaria.
The company has provided 7 million euros to increase the capacity of its kiln feeding installation for alternative fuels and continued to invest in innovation and digitalization of its processes. TITAN Zlatna Panega was among the first companies in Europe to introduce hydrogen – carbon neutral fuel, as a catalyst for the cement kilns burning process. The energy efficiency measures introduced in the cement mills were initially undertaken in response to the supply chain constraints and the possibility of natural gas shutdowns, and have resulted in the reduction of the use of gas for cement mills up to 7 times with a respective reduction of CO2 emissions from the grinding process.
Another important step of the company’s decarbonization program, which took place in 2022, was developing and launching on the market of two new cement brands with a much lower carbon footprint. The CEM II C-M cement type was developed following the new European cement standard and is produced with 13% less carbon dioxide emissions.
The decarbonization projects of TITAN Zlatna Panega are in line with the Net zero target of TITAN Group until 2050. TITAN Group is committed to delivering carbon-neutral concrete by 2050 and to introducing measures to keep the global temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to the preindustrial levels. More specifically, by 2030 TITAN Group commits to reducing direct net specific CO2 emissions to 500 kg CO2/t cement product and the indirect CO2 emissions from electricity consumption by 58.1% compared to the level in 2020. The Group’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
In parallel with TITAN Zlatna Panega’s efforts to reduce the impact on occurring climate change, the company plays an important role in the circular economy of Bulgaria. Over the past year, TITAN Zlatna Panega has utilized a total of 120,000 tons of waste in the production of cement and concrete, thus preserving a similar amount of natural resources.
TITAN Zlatna Panega continues to apply the highest possible standards in the field of health and safety at work. These efforts have helped us in reaching 740 days without аn occupational accidents with our employees. TITAN Bulgaria is committed to maintaining the best working environment, promoting the development of its employees, improving health and safety at the workplace, efficiency and productivity, and ensuring the physical and mental well-being of its employees.
In the past year 2022, the TITAN Zlatna Panega Innovation Lab program was created and introduced. The initiative aims to stimulate employees to share ideas to improve the work process and to achieve even higher business results. The participants of the initiative gave 84 innovative proposals. Out of the total, 40% have already been incorporated into the workflow.
TITAN Bulgaria has been investing in educational programs for the local communities for years. The company actively works for the cause of providing affordable and quality education for the children in the area where it operates. Zlatna Panega Cement purposefully supports several initiatives that aim to provide better opportunities for development and professional realization to people from local communities.
“Although integrated annual reports are a common practice of international companies, we are one of the few subsidiaries of this type of company to publish an integrated report at the national level. We do this as a sign of commitment and respect to the local community and our local stakeholders” – added Mr. Frantzis.
The full version of the Integrated Annual Report can be downloaded here.