Calix Limited, via its subsidiary Leilac, has signed a joint development agreement with Ambuja Cements to deploy a commercial-scale carbon capture project at the 6.6 MTPA Sanghi plant in Gujarat, India. The project integrates advanced electrification and carbon isolation technologies to establish a zero-coal pathway for heavy manufacturing.
MUMBAI — Australian environmental technology firm Calix Limited, through its subsidiary Leilac, has entered into a formal joint development agreement (JDA) with Ambuja Cements to deploy a commercial-scale carbon capture project in western India. The strategic initiative will be implemented at the 6.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Sanghi cement plant located in Sanghipuram, within the Kutch district of Gujarat. Announced on Monday, the engineering collaboration seeks to validate low-carbon cement manufacturing techniques by isolating process-related greenhouse gases and testing hybrid electrification pathways to drastically reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Deploying Breakthrough Carbon Capture in Western India
The commercial demonstration project is designed to evaluate the integration of Calix’s proprietary Leilac carbon capture technology alongside hybrid electric heating architectures. In a conventional cement kiln, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is produced not only from burning fuel but also as an unavoidable byproduct from the chemical breakdown of limestone into lime—known as process emissions.
By utilizing Calix's indirect heating system, the facility aims to capture these process emissions in a highly pure form without requiring energy-intensive chemical solvents.
According to regulatory filings, the partnership model specifies that neither Calix nor Leilac will make direct capital contributions to the initial execution phases of the industrial deployment. Instead, the current framework tasks both engineering teams with optimizing retrofitted configurations to minimize localized fuel usage and maximize the facility’s utilization of renewable electricity.
Driving Grid Integration and Zero-Coal Engineering
The commercial-scale project at the Sanghi cement plant represents a vital testing ground for next-generation heavy industrial operations. If successful, the technical roadmap outlines a blueprint to structurally transform standard kiln dynamics.
Phasing Out Coal Infrastructure
A primary engineering target of the project is testing a operational pathway where traditional coal consumption can be reduced to zero. The pilot configuration allows the manufacturing plant to shift toward alternative, lower-carbon fuels while relying on a hybrid electric layout that can adapt dynamically to energy availability.
Leveraging Captive Green Energy
The implementation leverages Ambuja Cements’ extensive regional infrastructure network. The Adani Group-owned company is aggressively scaling its industrial electrification, supported by an existing asset pool that includes:
Captive Power Portfolio: Nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of dedicated green solar and wind power generation capacity across regional grids.
Waste Heat Upgrades: Planned installation of 376 megawatts (MW) of waste heat recovery systems (WHRS) across Indian manufacturing assets by fiscal year 2028.
Official Sources Section
The engineering partnership and operational parameters were disclosed via market statements issued to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under the ticker CXL, alongside corporate press disclosures distributed by Ambuja Cements Limited to the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).
Official Statements
"The cement industry's transition to a lower-carbon future will require bold thinking, technological innovation and collaboration across the value chain," stated Karan Adani, Director of Ambuja Cements, in an official company release. "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."
Daniel Rennie, Chief Executive Officer of Leilac, expressed confidence in the scaling potential of the initiative: "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."
Why It Matters
For global institutional investors, the joint development agreement provides a clear benchmark for evaluating the commercial viability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in developing markets. The financial structure requiring zero upfront capital expenditure from the technology developer presents a highly replicable risk-sharing model for cross-border sustainability ventures.
For the industrial supply chain and commercial builders, the successful validation of the Sanghi plant pilot could soon guarantee access to certified low-carbon building materials. As corporations face stricter ESG disclosure mandates, sourcing cement that addresses hard-to-abate process emissions becomes an operational necessity.
Key Facts at a Glance
Project Site: The 6.6 MTPA Sanghi cement plant situated in Sanghipuram, Kutch district, Gujarat, India.
Technology Partner: Leilac, a specialized environmental technology subsidiary of Australia-listed Calix Limited (ASX:CXL).
Scaling Potential: A successful demonstration could scale the operation up to eightfold, capturing over 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Strategic Target: The pilot targets a complete pathway to eliminate coal consumption by utilizing flexible alternative fuels and renewable power.
FAQ Section
What is the primary technology being tested at the Gujarat plant?
The project is evaluating Leilac’s specialized indirect-heating carbon capture technology combined with hybrid electric heating to isolate and collect process emissions during cement production.
Where is the commercial demonstration project located?
The engineering deployment is stationed at the Sanghi cement plant in Sanghipuram, located within the Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
Who is financing the construction of this carbon capture facility?
According to the joint development agreement, the project is structured with no capital contributions required from Calix or its subsidiary Leilac.
How does this impact Ambuja Cements' long-term environmental targets?
The project directly supports Ambuja Cements' Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire industrial portfolio by 2050.
Source: Ambuja Cements Investor Relations, Australian Securities Exchange Company Announcements, Calix Corporate Media Desk.
