In the era of energy transition “consumers value what is sustainable”

At the start of the 6th edition of the Ceramics Technical Days, this Wednesday at the Convento de São Francisco, in Coimbra, the discussion focused mainly on the challenges that the industry faces in the face of decarbonization goals and a changing European industrial scenario. Energy, biofuels and the circular economy were some of the topics discussed and how Portuguese ceramics can compete on a global scale was also on the table.

The event was moderated by SIC Notícias journalist Sara Tainha and attended, among others, by Jorge Marques dos Santos, president of the board of directors of CTCV; Jorge Vieira, president of APICER; Pedro Brinca, economist and professor at Nova SBE; Luís Carneiro, from INESC TEC; Marcelo Franco de Sousa, from the European Tableware and Decorative Tableware Federation; Teodorico Pais, administrator of Vista Alegre Atlantis; Jaime Braga, from APPB; Carlos Pinto, manufacturing director of the Costa Nova Group; and Ana Veríssimo, business development manager at EIT RawMaterials. You can consult the list of the remaining speakers here.

Discover the main conclusions.

The energy challenges

• The energy transition is one of the biggest challenges facing the ceramics industry. One of the first people to say this was Jorge Vieira, who said that the challenge is “complex”, as there are no technologies for “effective and timely replacement”.
• Electricity in Europe is two to three times more expensive than in the USA, and industries in the European Union are energy intensive, mentioned Pedro Brinca.
• According to Sofia Simões, between 2019 and 2024, there was a succession of several legislative packages aimed at the energy transition, making it “difficult to keep up with regulatory changes”. When it comes to the ceramics industry in Portugal, the legislation “is very disparate”, stated Marisa Almeida.
• Energy prices are high, which is related to decarbonization policies, but one of the ways forward, believes Marcelo Franco de Sousa, is electrification. Still, in relation to decarbonization policies, the question is “to what extent does accelerated deindustrialization not mean?”
• For Teodorico Pais, accessibility to biofuels is an issue to be taken into account. “Fuels must be available” and prices must be “acceptable”.
• “Bioenergy has natural limits. It will never be able to meet all needs, perhaps 20% to 25% with technological progress”, stated Jaime Braga, highlighting that biofuels and biogases are an “essential part” of the energy transition.
• Francisco Gírio reinforced the importance of the ceramics industry “accelerating its energy transition” and that biomethane is “the most powerful solution”, and should replace part of the natural gas used.
• In a video message, Jean Barroca, Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, highlighted the importance of decarbonization and said that Portuguese sustainable goals are aligned with European ones.

Global competitiveness

• Several stakeholders agree that there is “unfair competition” from China, not only in the ceramics industry but also in other industries. In addition to China, another of Europe’s competitors is the USA.
• According to Pedro Brinca, who was based on Mario Draghi’s study, European exports are being threatened by competitive pressure from China in segments with high technological density, for example.
• There is a lack of competitiveness among Portuguese companies at a digital level, so it is necessary to create better conditions for these companies, said Pedro Brinca.
• China is the market leader in the area of ​​robotics, having already installed more than 300 thousand industrial robots, and by investing heavily in technology in its factories, it made Luís Carneiro known.
• Teodorico Pais said that “there is a very fragmented industrial fabric”, but highlighted the “merit” of the ceramics industry in Portugal. And he also mentioned that Portuguese industry has been taking advantage of technological advances and that it is necessary to “value training and education” and invest in “qualified resources”.

Ceramic mineral resources and the circular economy

• The value chains of ceramic mineral resources are, above all, contained in China, explained Ana Veríssimo. There is an absence of production and operation of resources in Europe.
• According to Brendam Clifford, these resources “are not at risk in Portugal due to scarcity”, but due to the inertia of services and companies.
• The exploration licensing process can take more than ten years, but Paulo Fernandes believes that “Minas Gerais culture cannot be lost”. It is rather “a culture that works”, so that knowledge is not lost.
• “It is necessary to create synergies” so that it is possible to have a circular economy, highlighted Carlos Pinto. Secondary raw materials and even waste from other industries must be used in factories, and ecodesign and material reduction must also be combined. Recycling waste does not mean that the quality of the products is lower or that they are uglier, because “consumers value what is sustainable”.
• Still on the circular economy, António Júlio Veiga highlighted that, in 2023, Portugal reintroduced only 2.8% of waste into the economy. He also stated that “there are no industrial symbioses”, nor economies of scale for a circular economy to exist.

Check the Expresso website tomorrow for the main conclusions of the second day of the Ceramics Technical Days.