Cement Industry Powerhouse Enters the Biochar Market
The International Biochar Initiative tracks key market shifts that signal the maturation of our sector.
This month, we highlight a groundbreaking collaboration between IBI member TOWING Co., Ltd. and Thailand’s industrial heavyweight, SCG Cement.
The News
Nagoya University spin-off and active IBI member TOWING Co., Ltd. has formalized a strategic partnership with SCG Cement Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Siam Cement Group (SCG), one of ASEAN’s largest conglomerates.
The partnership, announced at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) event, will establish a joint production system in Thailand’s Saraburi Province. SCG Cement will leverage its “biochar-capable” cement plant infrastructure to produce raw biochar, which will then be processed into TOWING’s high-performance “Soratan” (Solartan) product—a microbial-enhanced biochar designed for soil regeneration and carbon sequestration.
The Strategic Shift: From “User” to “Producer”
While much of the conversation around biochar and cement focuses on using char as an aggregate in concrete, this partnership demonstrates a different, equally powerful trend: the cement industry as a biochar factory.
Cement manufacturers possess three critical assets that the biochar sector needs to scale:
- Thermal Processing Infrastructure: Kilns and industrial heat management systems capable of handling massive biomass volumes.
- Logistics Networks: Established supply chains for raw material acquisition and product distribution.
- Capital & Scale: The ability to finance and build large-scale facilities.
By constructing a microbial cultivation facility adjacent to SCG’s plant, the project minimizes transport costs and allows for integrated quality control—effectively turning a cement complex into a hub for regenerative agriculture inputs.
Project Goals
- Decarbonizing Agriculture: The project focuses on producing “Soratan” to restore soil health in Thailand, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and their associated emissions.
- Supply Chain Resilience: Creating a low-carbon agricultural supply chain that connects industrial by-products (biomass) to food production.
- Global Expansion: Both companies view this Thailand-based facility as a model for future collaborations with food companies and international financial institutions.
IBI Perspective
It is thrilling to see IBI members like TOWING bridging the gap between agriculture and heavy industry. Seeing a leader like SCG Cement dedicate infrastructure to biochar production proves that our members are driving biochar from a niche solution into a scalable industrial opportunity.