In keeping with its vision in achieving Sustainability, Ambuja Cement has notched yet another first with the commencement of Sea trials on Bio-diesel Blends by one of its fleet of captive ships, Ambuja Mukund that was conducted at sea.
Neeraj Akhoury, CEO India, LafargeHolcim & MD & CEO, Ambuja Cements, said, “With the introduction of bio-diesel blends, we are significantly contributing towards the reduction of GHG emissions by introducing a suitable alternate green fuel that helps achieve our parent, Lafarge Holcim’s sustainability vision of net zero pledge 2030.”
Ambuja has received approvals to conduct this sea trial from the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), thus marking a new chapter in Indian coastal shipping.
Ambuja’s shipping initiative has always been an inspiring story of growth and innovation. Way back in 1992, Ambuja was the first cement company in the country to kick-start transportation of bulk cement by coastal shipping as the best mode of sustainable transport amongst all other modes of transport as well as the most cost-effective way. It was also the first to introduce Shore Power Supply to all her ships at the captive jetties.
With the adoption of bio-diesel as its fuel, shipping will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emission by 25% in the fleet from the present. Meanwhile, the national policy on Biofuels is aimed at taking forward the indicative target of achieving 20% blending of biofuels with fossil-based fuels by 2030. These targets are aimed at reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, a major contributor to global warming.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) too has also agreed for a GHG strategy for shipping which requires the shipping sector to reduce its emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. Ambuja’s focus on sustainability has been unwavering. The Company was awarded 5th rank in 2020 by the prestigious Dow Jones sustainability index where Ambuja was the only Indian cement company that featured in this ranking.
In September 2020, Lafarge Holcim joined the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Business Ambition for 1.5°C, thus, becoming the first global building materials company to sign the pledge with intermediate targets for 2030.
