New Delhi: The Indian cement sector, responsible for 5.8% of the country’s total CO₂ emissions, requires carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies to achieve 35-45% emissions reduction and meet the net-zero target by 2070. This was highlighted at a workshop organized by NITI Aayog at Vigyan Bhawan.
The workshop, titled “Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) in the Indian Cement Sector,” brought together government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and academicians to discuss decarbonization strategies. The Indian cement industry, with an installed capacity of 600 million tonnes and annual production of 391 million tonnes, is pivotal to the country’s infrastructure development and contributes significantly to its economy.
“CCUS is an indispensable tool to address emissions in the cement sector, which is critical for achieving India’s long-term climate goals,” said Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister. He emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental targets and advancing research and development to overcome challenges in decarbonizing this hard-to-abate sector.
Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, stated that the cement industry plays a key role in the Asia-Pacific region, which is witnessing rapid growth in the global cement market. “Carbon capture and utilization technologies, combined with clean energy initiatives, are essential to reducing emissions in the cement sector,” he said. He further highlighted the importance of carbon pricing and climate finance in supporting decarbonization efforts.
India possesses significant potential for CCUS, with regions such as the Krishna-Godavari Basin, Deccan Traps, and mature oil and gas fields offering substantial CO₂ storage capacity. Innovative utilization pathways, including producing methanol, biodegradable plastics, and value-added chemicals, were discussed as potential solutions for creating a low-carbon future.
Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, announced that the government is preparing a comprehensive CCUS Mission to support these efforts. Ranjith Rath, CMD, Oil India Limited, emphasized the need for innovative solutions and geo-sequestration techniques to mitigate emissions effectively.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has established a Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (DST-CoE-CCUS-CDI) to drive research and development in this area. The workshop covered various aspects of CCUS, including technology challenges, financing, and the need for a dedicated roadmap for the cement sector.
