The European Union Green Deal Workshop organized by the Turkish Structural Steel Association (TUCSA) with the principal support of the Ministry of Industry and Technology was held on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at the Istanbul Expo Centre with strategic partnership of the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TÇÜD), and the support of Metal-Expo.
During the workshop the benefits, uncertainties and problems of the EU Green Deal and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for our country and humanity were discussed and the recommendations in respect to the 2030 Steel Strategy were determined.
The EU Green Deal Workshop, which was held with high participation, was held in two parts. The first part consisted of speeches on technical issues presented by the representatives of the relevant ministries, after the opening remarks specific to the "Steel Industry". In the second part, round table studies were carried out. The general moderation of the workshop was conducted by Mr. Yener Gür'eş, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Constructional Steelwork Association (TUCSA).
The opening remarks was made by the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Mustafa Varank, after the speeches of Metal Expo Chairman of the Executive Board Barış Göktürk and the Chairman of the TUCSA Board of Directors Mr. Gür'eş as the host of the Workshop.
It Is Our Biggest Goal to Make Sustainable the Success of The Country
Some highlights from the opening remarks of the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Varank, are as follows:
“Our main concern is to sustain the success of our country, which is the largest steel producer in Europe and the seventh largest in the world. While the global steel industry has been decreased 1% due to the export quotas imposed by the USA and the EU, Turkish steel industry concluded 2020 with a growth of 6% by developing alternative markets for itself. Our country, which produced approximately 36 million tons last year, continues to display a strong performance in 2021 as well. The steel industry, which grew by about 20% in the first 6 months of 2021, increased its export value by 50%. Considering this performance, we predict that steel production will exceed 40 million tons by the end of 2021.
We should pursue the increasing our export success without any interruptions during the pandemics by new investments. The aspect of the EU Green Deal that our Ministry is closely concerns is undoubtedly the Carbon Border Adjustment legislation. It is very important to direct our national policies, both in terms of maintaining our integration with the EU and protecting our international competitiveness.
In this process, we prepared the Green Deal Action Plan in cooperation with public and private sector organizations. As the Ministry, I would like to reiterate that we stand by you in all efforts that will ensure the development and transformation of the sector. Working together, we can make Turkey a pioneer of change. “
Mr. Gür'eş, Chairman of the TUCSA Board of Directors, mentioned in his opening remarks that one of the most important problems of our planet is global warming and climate change, and the other is the brutal consumption of natural resources. Gür'eş also underlined that it is aimed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, primarily CO2 and CH4, 55% in comparison with 1990 by 2030, and to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent with zero greenhouse gas emissions by zeroing it prior to 2050.
After the opening remarks, the first part started. Mr. Sinan Durmaz, from the Metal Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, addressed the participants with his presentation titled “Steel Sector in the World and Turkey – EU Green Deal”. After Mr. Durmaz, Mr. Mehmet Ergünal, Head of Single Market, Competition and Technical Legislation Compliance Department of the International Agreements and EU General Directorate under Ministry of Trade, and Mr. V. Volkan Polat, Head of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Monitoring Branch of the Department of Climate Change and Adaptation under the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, have taken the floor. They shared the details of the Green Deal and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism with the attendees in different presentations covering the areas of interest of their ministries and the issues they carried out. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Hasırcı, Vice President of Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institution (TENMAK), made his presentation titled “Hydrogen Roadmap of Turkey”. Then Mr. Gür'eş gave a brief information about the workshop process and method. After this speech, Round Table Studies started.
The following topics were discussed at a total of 9 tables:
Table 1 - For Integrated Plants - The reasons for increasing greenhouse gas emissions in steel production and ways to reach the target of 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Table 2a and 2b - For Electric Furnace (EAF and IF) Plants - The reasons for increasing greenhouse gas emissions in steel production and ways to reach the target of 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Table 3 - For Rolling Mills – The reasons for increasing greenhouse gas emissions in steel production and ways to reach the target of 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Table 4 - Contribution of Lifecycle, Recycling and Reuse to achieving the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55%.
Table 5 - Effects of Digitalization in Building Design on EU Green Deal - CBAM processes.
Table 6 - Construction (manufacturing and site erection) process measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the use of steel.
Table 7 - Effects of Building Construction Techniques on processes of Green Deal and CBAM, and the recommendation.
Table 8 - Flat Rolling and Galvanizing plants (which do not melt steel, use it as raw material in the production of hot rolled sheet) and end users and manufacturers (such as automotive, home appliance, HVAC etc. manufacturers) using cold-hot-rolled-galvanized flat products in manufacturing final products; necessities, methods and recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The final report of the workshop will soon be shared with all interested parties, as well as sharing on TUCSA's website.