The opening meeting of the "Inter-Cluster Cooperation for Carbon Management" project, which aims to maintain the harmony and competitive structure of the iron and steel industry clustered in Aliağa, Foça and Bergama districts of Izmir, was held in Izmir.
ONLY 6% OF THE ENERGY USED IS RENEWABLE
It is carried out under the coordination of the Energy Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (ENSIA), in partnership with the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Associations (EDDMİB) and CosVig from Italy; The project, in which Izmir Development Agency, Izenerji and Eurosolar Turkey participated as participants, was also entitled to receive 520 thousand Euros of grant support from the European Union.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, which witnessed intense participation of representatives of iron and steel companies, Yalçın Ertan, Deputy Coordinator of the Aegean Exporters' Associations and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Associations (EDDMİB), pointed out that 6 percent of the energy used by the sector in production is obtained from renewable energy sources.
TARGET 25% RENEWABLE ENERGY
Noting that companies have come a long way, especially in solar energy systems, Ertan said that 75 percent of steel producing companies in Turkey produce from scrap iron as facilities with electric arc furnaces, while the remaining 25 percent are high-tech companies that produce from ore with higher carbon emissions. He informed that there are facilities with ovens.
Reminding that 70 percent of iron and steel producers in the world produce in blast furnace facilities with a high carbon footprint, EDDİB President Yalçın Ertan continued his words as follows:
“Our goal is to maintain our advantage here and increase our share of renewable energy resources from 6 percent to 25 percent. However, it is undoubtedly necessary to create support mechanisms so that companies can easily and quickly access financial resources for their investments in green production, as well as raising awareness of companies about the conditions that the Green Deal will bring. I would like to underline our determination to provide the necessary support mechanisms to our member companies until 2026, when we will be under financial obligation within the scope of SKDM.”
“ENSIA REPRESENTS THE SECTOR ABROAD”
Speaking at the meeting, Energy Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (ENSIA) Chairman Alper Kalaycı emphasized that Izmir has a very important place in iron and steel production in Turkey.
Pointing out that the European Union has a significant share in the high value-added product exports of iron and steel producers, which consume high levels of energy, Kalaycı reminded that companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint are making large-scale investments in clean energy sources, especially rooftop solar energy systems and geothermal.
Noting that they aim to increase the sector's preparation and awareness level for SKDM, Kalaycı added that, as ENSIA, they will implement many projects that will represent the Turkish clean energy sector abroad.
“THERE IS CLUSTERING IN ALL SUCCESS EXAMPLES”
Mehmet Yavuz, Secretary General of Izmir Development Agency, said that all successful examples in the world in the clean energy sector include cluster organizations such as ENSIA.
Noting that, as İZKA, they support all clean energy applications and institutional capacity development efforts in Izmir, including hydrogen, Yavuz stated that they are happy to cooperate with ENSIA in many projects at this point.
PROJECT 36 MONTH WILL CONTINUE
Following the speeches, ENSIA European Union Projects Coordinator Hazal Coşkun gave detailed information to the participants about the schedule and operation of the "Intercluster Cooperation for Carbon Management" project. The project, which is entitled to receive 520 thousand Euros of grant support from the European Union, will last 36 months.
Within the scope of the project, study visits and workshops will be held in Italy and Germany. While awareness-raising training is provided for companies operating in the sector; Lobbying activities will be carried out, sector strategy and recommendation documents will be prepared.
