Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has been globally ranked no. 1 by CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) for business readiness of lowest carbon transition. The company also has the lowest carbon footprint in the cement world (globally), said Sunil Gupta, executive director, manufacturing head, Eastern Region. “We follow the strict regimes and are the greenest cement manufacturing company in the world. Reducing transition risks and creating transition opportunities are the top priorities; emissions and energy intensities directly impact the operating costs and India’s Dalmia Cement aims to be carbon negative by 2040,” added Gupta.
We are creating opportunities to abate costs by investing in low carbon technologies and enhancing the use of green fuels, green power and green raw material in all our cement plants across India to convert transition risks into opportunities, he said.
The company has invested in low carbon technologies that have translated into enhanced resource generation and energy efficiency. It is five times water positive and the largest manufacturers of Portland Slag Cement (PSC) in India. “PSC is the lowest carbon footprint and the most environment-friendly cement available commercially in the markets today. As an environmentally focused company, we deploy the use of alternative fuels like slag and fly ash to build more sustainable business. In addition, we have also entered in partnerships with premier research institutions such as IIT Delhi and EPFL, Switzerland to make cement more environment-friendly and green product,” he added.
The company’s carbon negative ambition is an attempt to minimise the environmental impacts of cement production in the country. “We are the first cement company across the globe to join RE 100 (Renewable Energy- includes wind, solar, biomass and hydropower) and EP100 (Energy Production) – showing real business leadership in the clean energy transition by taking a joined-up approach, said Gupta adding, “the Climate Group estimates that if 100 companies double their energy productivity by 2030 – such as what Dalmia Bharat Cement has committed to do – over 170 million metric tons of emissions could be avoided cumulatively, equivalent to taking 37 million cars off the road for a year.” We are planning to increase the production capacity from 10MT to 16MT by 2021 in the eastern region and 26MT in the group, he said.
“Tough we are also at work to increase the production capacity to 50 MT by 2022 under the brownfield projects, acquisition as well as greenfield projects and for which company will invest Rs 3000 crore,” added Gupta.
Under CSR Dalmia Cement is providing funds for the welfare in the field of education, health and sanitation, entrepreneurship including others.
The company has continuously organised initiatives for the well-being of its communities around its area of operations at Bokaro, he said.