Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, has become the first cement company in the world to join the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID).
AFID is a global initiative coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) which brings together companies across industries to accelerate the transition to net zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. Ambuja’s membership in the alliance means it has committed to be net zero by 2050, a target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Ambuja Cements with a capacity of 78.9 MTPA is the second largest cement producer in India. “This is another milestone in Ambuja’s sustainability journey,” said Karan Adani, Non-Executive Director, Ambuja Cements. “We are already one of the lowest emission intensity cement producers globally and are working on several strategic initiatives to reduce our GHG emissions.”
As part of its clean energy push, Ambuja has announced a Rs. 10,000 crore investment in renewable energy projects. This includes 1 GW and 376 MW from Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS). This will enable the company to power 60% of its expanded capacity with green energy by 2028. This will reduce carbon footprint and will be economically attractive. Ambuja Cements used over 8.6 million tonnes of waste derived resources and became 11x water positive and 8x plastic negative in FY24.
Collaboration for Decarbonization
Ambuja’s membership in AFID gives the company a platform to collaborate and share best practices with industry peers across sectors. The alliance enables dialogue and cooperation to help companies develop robust decarbonization strategies in line with their country’s climate goals.
“Being part of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization will help us learn from global cross sector industry peers and in turn share our decarbonization approach,” said Mr. Adani.
looking ahead
Cement industry is considered a “hard to abate” sector due to the inherent carbon emissions in the production process. Ambuja’s commitment to be net zero by 2050 and its significant investment in renewable energy is a big step forward for the industry. Ambuja’s decarbonization journey will be watched closely by the industry globally.
