Ambuja Cements, Leilac Partner for Low-Carbon Cement Project

Ambuja Cements Limited, the cement and building materials arm of the Adani Group, has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-headquartered clean technology firm Leilac Limited to develop a commercial-scale pathway for low-carbon cement production. The project, announced on Monday, June 22, 2026, will be based at Ambuja Cements' 6.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Sanghi plant in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

The collaboration aims to address one of the most significant challenges in the global industrial sector: the decarbonization of cement and lime production. By integrating Leilac’s proprietary carbon capture and hybrid electric heating technology, the facility is designed to reduce emissions, minimize fuel consumption, and significantly increase the use of renewable electricity in its manufacturing processes.

Cutting-Edge Technology for Decarbonization

The commercial demonstration project at the Sanghipuram plant will test Leilac’s "indirectly heated" calcination technology. Unlike traditional methods that require costly chemical processes to separate carbon dioxide from flue gases, this innovative approach keeps process-related CO₂ pure and uncontaminated. This enables a more efficient and lower-cost method for capturing unavoidable emissions, which are a byproduct of the chemical reactions involved in clinker production.

The technology is reportedly "energy agnostic," allowing for flexible use of renewable electricity, biomass, or hydrogen. According to company statements, the integration of this system could effectively reduce coal consumption to zero, allowing the plant to rely on a mix of alternative fuels and renewable power.

Strategic Impact and Scalability

This initiative is a critical pillar of Ambuja Cements' broader decarbonization roadmap, which aims to achieve a net-zero target by 2050 in alignment with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standards. The company currently manages a significant portion of its energy needs through nearly 1 GW of captive green power capacity.

"The cement industry's transition to a lower-carbon future will require bold thinking, technological innovation and collaboration across the value chain," said Karan Adani, Director of Ambuja Cements. "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."

If the commercial demonstration proves successful, the partners plan to scale the facility by seven to eight times. At that scale, the technology would be capable of capturing more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, providing a scalable model that could be replicated across Ambuja’s extensive manufacturing network in India and potentially in other international markets.

Official Sources

• Ambuja Cements Limited: Corporate media release regarding the partnership and net-zero strategy.

• Leilac Limited: Technical documentation on the indirect heating and carbon capture calcination process.

• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Global standard for corporate decarbonization targets.

Quote Section

According to officials, "The collaboration is expected to improve the economics of carbon capture, strengthening the business case for large-scale deployment of carbon capture and utilisation."

Why It Matters

For the global cement industry, which accounts for approximately 8% of total CO₂ emissions, this project offers a potential solution to the "hard-to-abate" nature of clinker production. By demonstrating that carbon capture can be economically viable at a large industrial scale, Ambuja Cements and Leilac are creating a blueprint for other manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing production efficiency.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Project Location: Sanghi plant, Sanghipuram, Kutch, Gujarat.

• Primary Technology: Leilac’s carbon capture and hybrid electric heating technology.

• Environmental Goal: Supports Ambuja Cements' SBTi-validated net-zero target by 2050.

• Scaling Potential: Once successful, the project could be scaled to capture over one million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

• Efficiency: The design allows for a pathway to zero coal consumption and flexible use of renewable energy sources.

FAQ

1. Why is this project significant for the cement industry?

Cement production emits CO₂ not just from fuel use, but as an unavoidable chemical byproduct of the clinker production process; this technology captures those specific process emissions.

2. How does Leilac’s technology differ from other carbon capture methods?

It uses an indirectly heated calcination process that keeps CO₂ pure and free from contamination by other gases, avoiding the energy-intensive and expensive gas-separation step required by traditional methods.

3. What is the expected timeline for this project?

The partnership was announced on June 22, 2026, and will begin with a commercial demonstration project at the 6.6 MTPA Sanghi facility.

4. Can this technology be used in other factories?

Yes, the project is designed to be retrofittable and modular, meaning the technology can be integrated into existing cement and lime plants with minimal disruption.

Source: Ambuja Cements Newsroom, Leilac Technology