In a major move to make its production process carbon-free and contribute to creating a sustainable future, JK Lakshmi Cement, one of India’s leading cement manufacturers, has joined RE100, a global corporate renewable energy initiative to ensure meeting 100% electricity demand through renewable sources. The company has committed to meeting this target by 2040. With this step, the company has become the 4th cement firm globally to join the initiative, which demonstrates its unflinching commitment toward environment and sustainability. It joins over 400 of the world’s leading businesses dedicated to sourcing 100% renewable electricity.
The company has also joined EP100, a global corporate energy efficiency initiative that brings together over 120 energy smart businesses committed to measuring and reporting on energy efficiency improvements. The company has committed to doubling energy productivity by 2040 and is the 11th India-headquartered company to join EP100.
Commenting on the move, Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. said, “We have always emphasised on reducing carbon footprint and operating in an energy-efficient manner to facilitate global actions toward creating a sustainable future. Adopting environmentally conscious behaviour is an inevitability to fight climate menace and prevent the degradation of our environment. We have always taken the right steps and implemented different energy efficient techniques at our production facilities. With this initiative to be a part of RE100 & EP100, we are just accelerating our actions towards our commitment to a safe environment and a sustainable future.”
Atul Mudaliar, Head of Business Action, India, Climate Group, said, “Indian businesses are leading on climate. We’re delighted that JK Lakshmi Cement is pledging to both RE100 and EP100. By doing so, they are committing to cleaner use of energy and being more energy productive at the same time, which will only help them deliver climate action with greater efficiency. We celebrate their ambition. In this climate decade, the only way ahead is for more and more companies to recognise the business case for taking bold and unprecedented action toward a climate-positive future.”
As a member of RE100, the cement major will be working to fulfil all its electricity requirements from renewable sources such as solar installations, increasing waste heat-recovery capacity at their units, etc. This will significantly reduce its carbon footprint and help address the associated challenges.
With the EP100 commitment, the company seeks to transform every domain of operations to become carbon-free. The company has deployed LNG trucks to transport raw materials and has recently signed an agreement with Amplus Solar to set up a 56 MWp solar power plant for its Durg facility that will make it one of the greenest units in the cement Industry.