Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, on Monday, 22 June announced a strategic partnership with Leilac Limited, a UK-headquartered clean technology company, to develop what could become one of the world's largest commercial-scale pathways for low-carbon cement production. The project will be based at Ambuja's 6.6 MTPA Sanghi plant in Sanghipuram, Kutch, Gujarat.

What the Project Involves

The commercial demonstration project will evaluate the integration of Leilac's carbon capture and hybrid electric heating technology into Ambuja's existing manufacturing operations. The technology is designed to reduce coal consumption to zero while allowing flexible use of alternate fuels, and to capture unavoidable process carbon dioxide through greater deployment of renewable electricity.

Once successfully demonstrated, the project could be scaled up by 7 to 8 times, enabling the capture of more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This would establish a replicable, scalable pathway for low-carbon cement production not only in India but globally.

What the Companies Said

Karan Adani, Director of Ambuja Cements, said: 'The cement industry's transition to a lower-carbon future will require bold thinking, technological innovation and collaboration across the value chain. Our partnership with Leilac reflects our commitment to evaluating next-generation technologies that can reduce process emissions while improving energy efficiency and supporting long-term sustainable growth.'

He added: 'This initiative aligns with our vision of building world-class manufacturing operations for the future.'

Daniel Rennie, CEO of Leilac Limited, said: 'Ambuja Cements operates one of the world's largest and most advanced cement manufacturing networks. We're delighted to begin this collaboration to deliver a commercial-scale project for low-cost, low-carbon cement production. Together, we aim to demonstrate an economic, replicable and future-proof solution for the global cement industry.'

How It Fits Ambuja's Decarbonisation Strategy

The partnership is a key step in Ambuja Cements' broader decarbonisation roadmap, which includes an SBTi-validated net zero target for 2050. The company is already advancing the electrification of cement manufacturing, backed by nearly 1 GW of captive green power, and is laying the groundwork to scale breakthrough carbon capture solutions.

The collaboration is also expected to improve the economics of carbon capture, strengthening the business case for large-scale deployment of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies across the sector.

Why This Matters for Indian Industry

Cement production is one of the most carbon-intensive industrial processes globally, responsible for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. India, as the world's second-largest cement producer, faces significant pressure to decarbonise the sector while sustaining infrastructure-led growth. This project, if it scales as projected, could offer the industry a commercially viable template — a development that has so far eluded most global players.

Notably, this is among the first large-scale carbon capture integrations at an Indian cement facility, and its success or failure will be closely watched by peers and policymakers alike. The forward path depends on the demonstration results at Sanghipuram and the pace at which Ambuja can bring its renewable energy capacity to bear on the process.