State Secretary Claudia Plakolm visits Rohrdorf cement plant in Gmunden

Gmunden, 26 June 2024 – Yesterday, Tuesday 25 June, State Secretary Claudia Plakolm visited the cement plant in Gmunden to find out about the current status of decarbonization and the training of young talent at the site. The focus of the visit was a personal exchange with the Rohrdorf Net Zero Emission team as well as apprentices and working students.

CO2-free cement production from 2026

The most important stop on the plant tour was the new CO2 recovery plant, which will ensure that 50,000 tons of CO2-neutral cement can be produced in Gmunden every year once it is completed in 2026. Representatives of the Net Zero Emission team explained to State Secretary Plakolm how the plant works and the options for recycling or storing the recovered carbon dioxide. The necessary conditions that need to be created by politicians to make these processes economically viable in the future were also discussed.

Decarbonization as a pull factor for apprentices and students

Rohrdorfer is making targeted investments in the future viability of the plant in Gmunden. Since 2018, 57 million euros have been invested to bring the production facilities up to the latest technological and environmental standards. The aim is to preserve jobs, create new jobs and play a leading role in the decarbonization of the cement industry. For more and more young people, decarbonization is a decisive factor in deciding to do an apprenticeship or work in the cement industry. Eight apprentices and three working students are currently employed at the Gmunden site. During the tour, Claudia Plakolm talked to some of them and asked them about their expectations and prospects.

„Modern technologies enable climate protection that actually works. Bans alone do lasting damage to the business location. The new recovery plant is the best example of how a company like Rohrdorfer invests heavily in climate protection and reduces CO2 emissions. At the same time, it secures jobs in the region,“ says State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm.

Lydia Tropper from the Net Zero Emission team (left) presents Claudia Plakolm with a Net Zero Emission polo shirt. In the background: Peter Fürhapter, plant manager of the Gmunden cement plant.
Group photo with Claudia Plakolm (1st row, 2nd from left) and part of the Net Zero Emission team.
Claudia Plakolm in the apprentice workshop. She had previously learned about the training conditions at the cement plant from the two metal technology apprentices Hannes Wolf (left) and Chiara Nickl (right).

„As State Secretary for Youth and Federal Chairwoman of the JVP, Ms. Plakolm has a direct line to the younger generation. The exchange with her was therefore very valuable for us in order to better understand the values and goals of this generation,“ says Dr. Helmut Leibinger, Head of the Net Zero Emission team.