Electricity

Knjeginjić: Lafarge Serbia has know-how, investments to decarbonize, but needs regulatory support

Knjeginjic-lafarge-bef-2024

Photo: Balkan Green Energy News

Published

June 4, 2024

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

June 4, 2024

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

Lafarge Serbia, the leading cement producer in the country, does not lack the necessary knowledge, equipment or investments to adapt to a new business environment after the introduction of the European Union’s carbon border tax, but it does need support from Serbian regulators on the path to decarbonization, according to Dimitrije Knjeginjic, the company’s CEO.

Talking about the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Knjeginjić recalled that from January 1, 2026, the cement industry will have to pay for every ton of CO2 emitted. According to him, this means that the company will have to make significant changes to its operations in order to adapt to the new conditions.

Knjeginjić: We have made all necessary investments. What we need is the government’s understanding.

“On that path, we do not lack the know-how and the skills, or the equipment. We have invested into everything we needed to invest in, we only need the understanding of the Government of Serbia, so that we can untie this knot together, and be prepared for January 1, 2026,” Knjeginjić stated on the sidelines of Belgrade Energy Forum 2024.

Lafarge is a leading producer of construction materials in Serbia, and number one in the production of cement, fresh concrete, stone, and stone fractions, he stressed.

Speaking at a panel titled ‘Decarbonizing industry and business in response to Green Agenda and carbon pricing’, held as part of Belgrade Energy Forum – BEF 2024, Knjeginjić said that the cement industry does not need subsidies to reduce CO2 emissions, but appropriate regulations that would facilitate decarbonization.

Solutions already exist, we just need to copy the EU’s regulations

“We don’t need someone to invent solutions – they already exist – nor do we need to reinvent the wheel. We only need to apply what already exists in the EU, to copy their laws come January 1, 2026,” Knjeginjić said at the panel.

One of the solutions, according to him, is for the authorities to allow at least three cement plants in Serbia to install cogeneration facilities in order to enable non-recyclable waste from city landfills to be used for energy production.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Battery storage investors Romania rapidly expanding project pipeline

Battery storage investors in Romania rapidly expanding project pipeline

16 August 2025 - In an rising investment wave, firms in Romania are combining energy storage with solar, wind and hydropower or building standalone systems

north macedonia guarantees of origin solar power plant oslomej

Good start for North Macedonia: in first two months 100k+ guarantees of origin issued

15 August 2025 - In April, the National Electricity Market Operator (MEMO) established the Register of Guarantees of Origin for electricity

serbia eps profit results 2025

Serbia’s EPS reports EUR 234 million profit for first half of 2025

15 August 2025 - State-owned Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) achieved lower profit in the first half of the year than in the same period of 2024

North Macedonia draft law envisages renewable energy auctions for CfDs

North Macedonia’s draft law envisages renewable energy auctions for CfDs

14 August 2025 - North Macedonia's draft Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources covers auctions, CfDs, prosumers and renewable energy communities