Oman Hosts Inaugural LC3 Days Conference: Key Insights for Investors and Business Growth Opportunities
MUSCAT – The Sultanate of Oman has reinforced its position as a regional leader in sustainable industry by successfully hosting the first-ever Middle East conference on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3). This landmark three-day event was organised by the Middle East Calcined Clay Company in collaboration with GUtech Oman and the esteemed LC3 Team from EPFL Switzerland. The conference took place across multiple venues, combining academic theory, high-level discussions, and practical on-site experiences.
The event began with a specialized pre-course at GUtech Oman, where students, practicing civil engineers, and representatives from local companies engaged deeply with the science and applications of LC3 technology. This foundational day highlighted Oman’s commitment to enhancing local expertise and ensuring its engineering community leads in sustainable materials knowledge.
The conference was graced by Professor Karen Scrivener, the pioneering lead researcher of the LC3 team at EPFL, whose groundbreaking work is revolutionizing cement production globally. Discussions focused on critical pathways to achieving Net-Zero emissions, improving the sustainability of cement manufacturing, and the significant carbon footprint reductions enabled by adopting LC3.
Dr Hilal al Dhamri, CEO and Founder of the Middle East Calcined Clay, emphasized Oman’s strategic role, stating, “It is our great pleasure that EPFL and the global LC3 community have chosen Oman for this pivotal conference. This decision directly recognises Oman’s pioneering achievement as the first country in the Middle East to produce calcined clay for concrete, with our flagship factory in Suhar. This facility represents a tangible commitment to a greener future for the region’s development.”
The conference concluded with a practical site visit to the groundbreaking factory in Suhar, offering delegates a firsthand view of the operational core of the region’s sustainable cement future. This visit bridged international research with local industrial implementation.
The seamless collaboration between an Omani industrial leader, a national academic institution, and a world-class research university demonstrated the powerful synergy required to tackle climate challenges. This three-day journey — from the GUtech classrooms to Suhar Industrial City — has firmly established Oman not only as a host but as a proactive and dedicated leader in the global drive toward sustainable construction, ready to provide knowledge and materials for a lower-carbon world.
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Oman’s hosting of the inaugural Middle East Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) conference positions the Sultanate as a regional leader in sustainable construction materials, creating significant opportunities for businesses to innovate in low-carbon industries. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider capitalizing on Oman’s pioneering LC3 production capabilities and its growing expertise in green technology, which align with global trends towards sustainability and net-zero emissions. This strategic move also mitigates environmental risks while opening new avenues for export and collaboration in the emerging sustainable building materials market.
