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Our target is to become carbon-negative by 2040: Dalmia Cement

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Elaborating on its sustainability initiatives, Ashwani Pahuja, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Director, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, India reveals that In the last five years, the company has trimmed 17.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from its operations.

Sustainability, as a concept, has picked up well within the cement manufacturers. Elaborate on initiatives adopted by Dalmia Cement.

Our target is to become carbon negative by 2040. The first step is RE 100 by 2030 and fossil fuel replacement by 2035. Since the last decade, there are major initiatives on sustainability starting with material circularity, increased utilisation of industrial waste including fly-ash and and slag. In 2013, we were consuming nearly 1 million tonnes of industrial waste, which has increased to 6 million tonnes. That is a six fold increase in our material circularity or circular economy.

Multiple energy efficiency optimization programmes have also been implemented at the plant including retrofitting of energy efficient equipment. Today, the average energy consumption within our group is 71 kWh/tonne, which is nearly 20% lower than the global average. These two measures coupled with certain initiatives in renewables (installed 8 MW solar PV + 9MW of waste recovery project) has made Dalmia one of the lowest carbon footprint companies globally. The CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) has ranked Dalmia as the number one group globally in the business readiness for low carbon in their global sector report published in 2018.

In the last four years, we have also become five times water positive. The aim is to be 25 times water positive by 2030. In the last five years, we have avoided 17.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from our operations.

What are the other measures under implementation?

To further reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, we are installing waste heat recovery in plants wherever it is technically feasible. From the current 9.2 MW, it will increase to 56.2 MW in next 4-5 years. And in carbon neutral fuels (biomass) currently at 4% will be enhanced to 25% in the next five years. More solar installation (77MW) is in the offing as part of RE100 target set for 2030. By then, all electricity consumption for plants will be from renewables.

Can you quantify the percentage of increase in fund allocations for sustainability initiatives annually?

There are certain constraints in the solar initiative for private players, particularly, in transmissions segment policies. We hope that this would be sorted by the government with enabling policies. Financing for sustainable technologies and carbon technologies is not an issue as global financing companies are ready to fund provided you reduce carbon footprint.

In line with Paris Climate Agreement, there may be a push from the government. In European countries, the polluter pays for industrial wastes as well as for various alternate fuels including landfill activities. We may expect such policies in the near future in our country. We are looking at bamboo plants in waste land, which in turn, can be a fuel for the cement industry as well as for the power industry.

As a standalone, it is very difficult to switch over to carbon neutral technologies unless there are very attractive carbon markets. In the near future, these carbon markets are likely to become active. There are Green Climate Funds to the tune of $100 million every year to the developing nations for carbon-neutral technologies.

Could you elaborate on the cost advantage after adopting newer technologies?

Cost benefits are not immediate but over the medium- to long-term, the benefits are good. Initially, solar was at Rs 16/ unit. However, technological advancements and economies of scale brought the prices down. In the long term, these technologies will have to become viable through economies of scale technologies and also by enabling policies including incentives and the carbon markets. So, it?? a mix of low interest green finance, liberal policies as well as economics of scale.

Does India have a compliance structure for companies that are internationally accepted when it comes to green funds?

IFC and ADB are ready to fund projects provided the organisations come forward with various carbon neutral initiatives. For Dalmia, which is arguably one of the lowest carbon footprint companies in the world, it is not that difficult.

Renjini Liza Varghese

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Concrete

India Sets Up First Carbon Capture Testbeds for Cement Industry

Five CCU testbeds launched to decarbonise cement production

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled a pioneering national initiative: five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector, forming a first-of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to combat industrial carbon emissions.
This is a significant step towards India’s Climate Action for fostering National Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and to achieve net zero decarbonisation pathways for Industry Transition., towards the Government’s goal to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) holds significant importance in hard-to-abate sectors like Cement, Steel, Power, Oil &Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers in reducing emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes and converting it to value add products such as synthetic fuels, Urea, Soda, Ash, chemicals, food grade CO2 or concrete aggregates. CCU provides a feasible pathway for these tough to decarbonise industries to lower their carbon footprint and move towards achieving Net Zero Goals while continuing their operations efficiently. DST has taken major strides in fostering R&D in the CCUS domain.
Concrete is vital for India’s economy and the Cement industry being one of the main hard-to-abate sectors, is committed to align with the national decarbonisation commitments. New technologies to decarbonise emission intensity of the cement sector would play a key role in achieving of national net zero targets.
Recognizing the critical need for decarbonising the Cement sector, the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of Department launched a unique call for mobilising Academia-Industry Consortia proposals for deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) in Cement Sector. This Special call envisaged to develop and deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilisation integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.
As a unique initiative and one of its first kind in India, DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration under this significant initiative of DST in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.
On the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations, on May 11, 2025 the 5 CCU Cement Test beds were announced and grants had been handed over to the Test bed teams by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
The five testbeds are not just academic experiments — they are collaborative industrial pilot projects bringing together India’s top research institutions and leading cement manufacturers under a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each testbed addresses a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.
The outcomes of this innovative initiative will not only showcase the pathways of decarbonisation towards Net zero goals through CCU route in cement sector, but should also be a critical confidence building measure for potential stakeholders to uptake the deployed CCU technology for further scale up and commercialisation.
It is envisioned that through continuous research and innovation under these test beds in developing innovative catalysts, materials, electrolyser technology, reactors, and electronics, the cost of Green Cement via the deployed CCU technology in Cement Sector may considerably be made more sustainable.
Secretary DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Dr Ajai Choudhary, Co-Founder HCL, Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB, Dr Anita Gupta Head CEST, DST and Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were also present at the programme organized at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Adopts EVs to Cut Emissions in Logistics

Electric vehicles deployed between JK Puram and Kalol units

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JK Lakshmi Cement, a key player in the Indian cement industry, has announced the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in its logistics operations. This move, made in partnership with SwitchLabs Automobiles, will see EVs transporting goods between the JK Puram Plant in Sirohi, Rajasthan, and the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat.
The announcement follows a successful pilot project that showcased measurable reductions in carbon emissions while maintaining efficiency. Building on this, the company is scaling up EV integration to enhance sustainability across its supply chain.
“Sustainability is integral to our vision at JK Lakshmi Cement. Our collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles reflects our continued focus on driving innovation in our logistics operations while taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. This initiative positions us as a leader in transforming the cement sector’s logistics landscape,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement.
This deployment marks a significant step in aligning with India’s push for greener transport infrastructure. By embracing clean mobility, JK Lakshmi Cement is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.
The company continues to embed sustainability into its operations as part of a broader goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative adds to its vision of building a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the 135-year-old JK Organisation, began operations in 1982 and has grown to become a recognised name in Indian cement. With a presence across Northern, Western, and Eastern India, the company has a cement capacity of 16.5 MTPA, with a target to reach 30 MT by 2030. Its product range includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, and autoclaved aerated fly ash blocks.

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Concrete

Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

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Holcim UK has released a report titled ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality,’ outlining its five-fold commitment to a greener future. The company aims to focus on decarbonisation, circular economy principles, smarter building methods, community engagement, and integrating nature. Based on a survey of 2,000 people, only 41 per cent felt urban spaces in the UK are sustainably built. A significant majority (82 per cent) advocated for more green spaces, 69 per cent called for government leadership in sustainability, and 54 per cent saw businesses as key players. Additionally, 80 per cent of respondents stressed the need for greater transparency from companies regarding their environmental practices.

Image source:holcim

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