Decarbonizing Thailand’s High-Emissions Industries: Challenges and Opportunities Forum
A closed-door, in-person forum for senior industrial leaders to explore practical, technology-enabled pathways for decarbonization in Thailand's most emissions-intensive sectors.
Apply to Attend
# Seats are limited and subject to committee acceptance. You will receive a Confirmation Email upon Approval.
Co-hosted by Yokogawa & Southeast Asia Corporate Decarbonization Exchange (CDx)
28 January 2026 | Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok, Thailand
Background
Thailand has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, with industrial sectors such as cement, iron & steel, chemicals, and mining accounting for a significant share of national emissions. As Thailand prepares to introduce new climate policies, including carbon pricing mechanisms, industrial companies face growing pressure to translate ambition into practical action. This forum provides a platform to examine how technology, policy alignment, and industry collaboration can support credible, cost-effective decarbonization in the Thai context.
Why Participate
- Gain clarity on Thailand’s evolving climate policy landscape, including upcoming carbon pricing mechanisms and their implications for industrial operations
- Understand the risks and opportunities associated with decarbonization for high-emissions industries
- Learn what near-term decarbonization actions are realistically achievable across cement, iron & steel, chemicals, mining, and related sectors
- Explore how measurement, digitalization, and process optimization can deliver measurable emissions reduction while improving operational efficiency
- Hear practical insights from industry peers, policymakers, and technical experts on what has worked in real-world settings
- Engage in candid, closed-door discussions designed to support informed decision-making and collaboration
Who Should Attend
This forum is designed for senior decision-makers from Thailand's industrial and manufacturing sectors, including:
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- Plant and operations leaders
- Sustainability and ESG leads
- Engineering and process optimization managers
- Strategy and transformation leaders
Participation is by invitation to ensure a focused, high-quality discussion.
Agenda
Opening Remark
Sets the stage for the day, highlighting Thailand’s industrial decarbonization challenge and the need for practical, data-driven solutions that support competitiveness and compliance.
- Mark Lister, CEO, CDx
Welcome Remark
Frames Yokogawa’s role as a technical enabler supporting Thai industries in achieving measurable, operationally grounded decarbonization.
- Preechai Trannitad, Managing Director, Yokogawa Thailand
Building Thailand’s Low-Carbon Industrial Future: Policy Signals, Partnerships, and Innovation
Provides a regional and international perspective on how climate policy, trade dynamics, and energy transition trends are shaping expectations for high-emissions industries in Thailand. The session will situate Thailand’s Climate Change Act within broader regional and global policy signals, highlighting the role of partnerships, innovation, and coordination in supporting effective national implementation and industrial competitiveness.
- Michael Williamson, Section Chief, Energy Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Decarbonizing for Competitiveness: How Thai Industries Can Seize Economic Advantage in a Low-Carbon Future
This strategic conversation explores how global buyers, investors, and markets are reshaping the business case for decarbonization. Panelists will reflect on shifting regional expectations, competitiveness risks, and the operational capabilities industries must build to stay ahead.
- Christopher J. Best, Infrastructure Finance Specialist, Private Sector Operations Department, ADB
- Vachan Alva, General Manager - Head of Sales for Power, Renewables and Water, Yokogawa Engineering Asia
- Uma Wirutskulshai, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO
- Wachirachai Koonamwattana, Chief Sustainability Officer, SCG
- Moderator: Ping Manongdo, Head of Partnerships, CDx
Breaking Barriers to Thailand’s Industrial Decarbonization: Real Stories, Real Solutions
Despite strong national commitments, many industrial facilities face practical constraints that slow decarbonization. This fishbowl session brings together diverse perspectives to unpack these real-world challenges and explore grounded, actionable solutions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the most common operational, technical, and data-related barriers that prevent industrial plants from advancing decarbonization.
- Understand which practical solutions can deliver near-term results.
- Explore enabling factors needed across policy, industry, and technology providers to move from barriers to implementation.
- Gain insight into how industrial operators can prioritize actions that strengthen both emissions reduction and competitiveness.
- Subject Expert: Somsak Pikkanesuan, Vice Chairman, Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC
- Enabler: Pascal Gaillot, Yokogawa YEF
- Case Study Provider: Apichart Kijjaroenvisal, Executive Vice President - New Project GHG Reduction, AGC Vinythai Public Company Limited
- Protagonist: Thanyaporn Kirchtitayawuth, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Thailand
- Moderator: Mark Lister, CEO, CDx
A hands-on walkthrough of Yokogawa’s industrial decarbonization capabilities, focusing on demonstration of Yokogawa’s carbon management tools, digital optimization capabilities, and real-time emissions monitoring systems. This session includes 2-3 partner case study booths showcasing applied industrial examples relevant to cement, mining, steel, and chemical operations.
- Alicia Hui, Regional Head, Digital Enterprise Solutions, Yokogawa YEA
- Sharon Zhou, Energy and Sustainability Solution Director - Asia, KBC Yokogawa
- Panitnart Ubollers, Head of Digital Enterprise Solution, Yokogawa Thailand
- Pornravee Leelachaikul, Technical Support Consultant, Yokogawa Thailand
Operational Decarbonization in Heavy Industry
This masterclass examines the operational realities of decarbonizing heavy industry, drawing cross-sector lessons from cement, mining, steel, chemicals, and other energy-intensive sectors. The session focuses on the system-level and plant-level constraints that consistently slow or derail implementation.
The discussion will address challenges related to continuous operations, fuel switching, process efficiency, asset lifetimes, data availability, and operational risk, and how these interact with cost, reliability, and competitiveness. Participants will gain clarity on where decarbonization efforts typically stall, which operational levers can deliver near-term emissions reductions, and how to prioritize actions that are realistic within existing plant configurations and business constraints
- Bart Lucarelli, Chief Executive Officer, Roleva Energy
Financing the Industrial Transition
This masterclass focuses on the financial and structural barriers that prevent heavy-industry decarbonization projects from moving from concept to execution. It examines why technically viable measures often fail to proceed due to capital availability, risk allocation, and misalignment between industrial timelines and financing structures.
The discussion will cover coal phase-out challenges in industrial settings, common financing bottlenecks, and what lenders, investors, and development finance institutions typically require to support transition projects. Participants will gain practical insight into how to structure decarbonization investments, manage transition risk, and sequence projects in a way that aligns operational needs with financial feasibility
- Balaji MK, Senior Associate, Asia Clean Energy Partners
Summarizes cross-cutting insights from the day, identifies common themes across sectors, and highlights opportunities for continued collaboration and capability-building to support Thailand’s transition.
- Joshua Kyaw Zwa, Regional Head of Materials Business Unit, Yokogawa YEA
- Jomyut Kessamaris, Head of Materials Business, Yokogawa Thailand
Closing reflections followed by networking cocktails.
About Corporate Decarbonization Exchange (CDx)
Southeast Asia’s platform for corporate decarbonization
The Southeast Asia Corporate Decarbonization Exchange (CDx) is a regional, membership-based platform convening senior industry leaders, policymakers, and solution providers to drive practical, scalable decarbonization across Southeast Asia. CDx is recognized for delivering high-impact forums and implementation-focused discussions grounded in real industry challenges, supporting companies at different stages of their decarbonization journey.
Yokogawa partners with various industries to implement energy-efficient practices and technologies. By optimizing energy use and enhancing operational efficiency, Yokogawa assists organizations in reducing their carbon footprint. These efforts align with global goals for sustainability and net-zero targets, where accurate GHG accounting and reporting are crucial.
Yokogawa leverages its expertise in automation, data analytics, and energy optimization to support industries in their decarbonization initiatives.