Saudi Arabia’s energy minister joins the launch of a group to support environmentally friendly concrete

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish the NovusCrete consortium, a global collaborative initiative that aims to expedite the adoption of sustainable and durable saltwater concrete.

The consortium, which is directed by the Kingdom’s Oil Sustainability Program, also aims to establish standards for the use of seawater in concrete, encourage sustainability in construction by recycling refuse, extend the lifespan of infrastructure, and minimize the environmental impact.

The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Investment Recycling Company, NEOM through its Design and Construction Sector, Sika, and ClimateCrete are among the prominent Saudi organizations that are participating in the consortium.

The participants stated that their objective is to create sustainable technologies for concrete production, with a particular emphasis on the reduction of the construction sector’s carbon footprint and the improvement of material efficiency.

They will also enhance Saudi Arabia’s construction sector by advocating for saline concrete solutions that utilize local materials.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF; Saad Al-Qasabi, governor of the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization; and Khalid Al-Salem, president of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, also attended the signing ceremony in Riyadh.

The American Concrete Institute is among the international organizations that comprise the new consortium.

Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to achieve a harmonious balance between environmental sustainability and economic development, aligns with this.