Road-mapping needed to decarbonise India's cement industry

A road-mapping is needed to decarbonise the Indian cement industry, one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Industry experts call for policy and economic interventions to reduce emissions. The cement industry leaves behind a large carbon imprint. Technical solutions would allow close to net-zero emissions within the industry. Industries in India are progressing on reducing energy emissions, but long-term sustainable growth and more fundamental changes are needed. Director of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Dr Vibha Dhawan, said that a workshop was held on the Virtual Roadmap Workshop for Decarbonisation of the Cement Sector in India. TERI is a local partner of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), and both are working together on preparing a sectoral roadmap for the cement and steel industry. According to a statement, the workshop was organised by TERI, LeadIT and the Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of Paris Agreement (SPIPA). Dr Somya Joshi, Head of Global Agendas, Climate and Systems Divisions, highlighted that industry roadmap planners are crucial for knowledge sharing, adopting a structural approach for setting and achieving targets and avoiding bottlenecks. CEO and Managing Director of Dalmia Cement Limited, Mahendra Singhi, highlighted that carbon capture, utilisation and storage is crucial to making the Indian cement industry a net-zero emissions industry. EHS and Sustainability Sector Head of GMR Group, Dr Muthukrishana M, said that from a business point of view, it is crucial to consider the economic feasibility of green cement. Image Source