As our team started gearing up for the Indian Cement Review annual awards and conference, we went through a series of interactions with industry leaders as they came on board with us as jury members and panel of experts. One of the key takeaways was decarbonisation of cement. It is non-negotiable and imminent. However, the major challenge for cement companies in decarbonisation is maintaining a healthy profit margin.
During its G20 presidency this year, India is pitching for an ‘Energy Efficiency Partnership for 2030′ initiative. This involved energy transition and energy security, and a feasible plan to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. This means that India cannot afford to lag behind in its efforts or results, as the world is looking at us not only to follow global standards of carbon emissions but also to lead the fray.
Automation is the major driving force that can help cement companies reduce its carbon footprint. Apart from innovative technology, a change in mindset is required to help the industry adapt to automated formats of production rather than the age-old methods of manual interventions.
Turning a hard-to-abate industry such as cement into a sustainable one is not a short-term goal. It is an interconnected and interdependent enterprise that needs to be executed every day, in every department, at every level. Sustainable protocols have to be implemented from mining to usage stages, from sourcing of raw materials and fuels to automation of systems and from packaging to bulk distribution. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage has to be integrated without exception. And there should be open dialogues between the industry and the government on questions about carbon tax and carbon credit.
Given the governmental urban and housing development schemes that are underway, the demand for cement is set on its upward trajectory. It is, therefore, important to make this growth a sustainable one with due allegiance to the cause of climate change and carbon emissions. With ICR, the exchange of ideas will continue unabated as we help the industry steer its course with reduced carbon footprints towards Net Zero targets.