Chula, TCMA, And Canadian Partners Collaborate On Carbon Capture Technologies To Support Net Zero Transition

Chulalongkorn University and the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) have launched a collaboration to advance the “pilot-scale carbon dioxide capture innovation” project, a key initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Thailand’s cement industry and accelerating the country’s transition toward net-zero emissions. The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 25, 2026, at the Maha Chulalongkorn Building by Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, and Mr. Surachai Nimlaor, President of TCMA.

On this occasion, H.E. Ms. Ping Kitnikone, Ambassador of Canada to Thailand; Dr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Director-General of the Department of Climate Change and Environment; and Mr. Theeratat Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, delivered congratulatory remarks. Prof. Dr. Pranut Potiyaraj, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University, also participated in the signing ceremony.

This collaboration reflects Chulalongkorn University’s role in advancing knowledge, research, and innovation in environmental and clean energy fields together with industry, government agencies, and domestic and international partners. The initiative aims to develop a prototype “Mobile Carbon Capture Unit,” a mobile system that can eventually be applied in Thailand’s industrial sector.

Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat stated that the partnership demonstrates the university’s role as a “Strategic Knowledge Partner” that bridges academic knowledge with practical applications while also developing “Green Talent” to support industrial transformation. “This collaboration will strengthen Chula’s role in advancing low-carbon technologies and preparing future talent for the green transition. By linking research, innovation, and workforce development, we hope to support the sustainable growth of Thailand’s green economy in the years ahead,” he said.

He noted that the project demonstrates how universities, industry, and government can work together to tackle complex challenges that no single sector can address alone. Such collaboration helps bridge the gap between research and real-world implementation, enabling promising technologies to be tested, refined, and deployed at scale.

He added that Chulalongkorn University is committed to ensuring that academic research delivers tangible benefits to society. He expressed confidence that the partnership with TCMA would accelerate the transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to industry, creating practical solutions that contribute to Thailand’s long-term economic and environmental resilience.

Mr. Surachai Nimlaor, President of TCMA, said that the collaboration reflects the proactive role of industry in driving climate commitments through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism linking industry, academia, government agencies, and international partners, including Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). The goal is to accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon cement industry in line with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap. “This collaboration brings together academic expertise, industry experience, and international knowledge to advance carbon capture technology. Through pilot projects in the Saraburi Sandbox and support from Canadian experts, we aim to test, refine, and scale up solutions that can help accelerate the industry’s low-carbon transition,” he said.

Canadian Ambassador H.E. Ms. Ping Kitnikone said Canada was pleased to support the initiative, which reflects more than 65 years of cooperation between Thailand and Canada as well as a shared commitment to addressing climate change.

“By combining expertise, technology, and experience in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative creates new opportunities for cooperation between Canadian and Thai partners. Through support from Canadian experts, personnel development, and pilot projects in Thailand, we hope to help move promising research into practical solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon economy,” she said.

Dr. Phirun Saiyasitpanich, Director-General of the Department of Climate Change and Environment, noted that the cement industry plays a key role in Thailand’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve its Net Zero 2050 target while strengthening climate resilience.

“This partnership helps connect innovation with policy. By testing new approaches in the Saraburi Sandbox, we can better understand what works in practice and use those insights to support future policy development and wider implementation,” he said.

Mr. Theeratat Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, stated that the initiative aligns with the “One MIND” industrial policy, which integrates regulatory oversight with green industry promotion. “The Department of Industrial Works is ready to support this collaboration and help develop it into a scalable industrial model that enhances the country’s competitiveness,” he said.

Dr. Chana Poomee, Honorary President of TCMA and Chairman of the ASEAN Federation of Cement Manufacturers (AFCM), described the collaboration as another important step in positioning Thailand as a “regional model” for industrial decarbonization. “Bringing together government agencies, industry, and academia through public-private partnerships (PPP) will help connect policy, technology, research, and workforce development. This integrated approach can support the growth of a low-carbon industrial ecosystem and provide a model for wider adoption,” he said.

Prof. Dr. Pranut Potiyaraj, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University, said the project provides an opportunity to test research under real industrial conditions, particularly at cement plants in Saraburi Province. He expressed confidence that the initiative would deliver measurable results in the near term while also inspiring greater interest among younger generations in climate and carbon reduction challenges.

He noted that the Faculty of Science is conducting research not only on carbon capture technologies but also on plant-based approaches that harness natural processes to absorb carbon. At the same time, the faculty is developing new academic programs to help address Thailand’s shortage of specialists in carbon measurement, monitoring, and evaluation.