Development Alternatives Hosted trialogue 2047 to discuss the importance of Decarbonising the Cement industry

June 29: Development Alternatives (DA) hosted the 24th “trialogue 2047” to bring a light upon the urgent need to decarbonise the cement industry, which is considered one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution. The “trialogue2047” brought together key stakeholders of this sector on one platform, including Ms. Ruchika Drall, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, GoI; Mr. S. Chandrasekar, IFS, Member Secretary, Bihar State Pollution Control Board; Dr. Jonathan Demenge, Head of Cooperation, Swiss agency of development and cooperation (India); Dr Soumen Maity, Vice President, Development Alternatives and Dr Mukesh Kumar, R&D Head, J.K. Laxmi Cement Ltd.  

The discussion arrived at a consensus that the best way forward is to adopt transformative technologies that help in decarbonising the cement industry. This needs a strong commitment and cooperation on the part of the cement industry, government, institutions, civil society and academia.

DA Group in association with École poly technique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland, Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Delhi, and Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, (UCLV) Cuba, supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, India, Embassy of Switzerland have been working from the last decade on Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), which is seen as a major innovation to reduce emissions. LC3 reduces the clinker factor in cement production by the addition of calcined clay and waste limestone. While LC3 has become a cement of choice in over a dozen countries in Africa, South America, and South East Asia, the standards for commercially producing LC3 in India is at the final stages with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It is expected to be published very soon.

TARA the “incubation engine” of the DA Group in association with IIT Delhi and IIT Madras has worked towards commercial production of LC3 in India. Lately, it has been a preferred technology and knowledge partner with large conglomerates in the sector such as JK Lakshmi Cement for the commercial production of LC3. It is hoped that with commercial use of LC3, India will be able to provide a profitable and viable solution against the adverse effects of climate change and achieve the nationally determined commitments made at COP26 by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.