Experts call for resource mapping to enable green cement manufacturing in northeast

Concerns over the future carbon footprint of Northeast India’s expanding industrial and infrastructure sector took centre stage at a one-day workshop on decarbonising the cement industry through Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) technology, held in Guwahati.

The workshop brought together representatives from government departments, cement manufacturers, contractors, builders, dealers and technical institutions to deliberate on pathways for reducing emissions in one of the region’s key industrial sectors.

Addressing the inaugural session, Development Alternatives CEO Shrashtant Patara said that while Northeast India currently remains carbon positive, rapid urbanisation and industrial growth could alter that balance in the coming years if measures to reduce emissions are not adopted at an early stage. He underlined the need to integrate low-carbon industrial practices into the region’s development trajectory.

Technical discussions during the workshop focused on the potential of LC3 technology as an alternative cement production pathway aimed at lowering carbon emissions and reducing production costs. Dr. Soumen Maity, Chief Technology Officer of TARA, outlined the advantages of LC3, stating that the technology could contribute to lowering the environmental impact of cement manufacturing while offering a cost-effective option for markets across the Northeast.

Participants highlighted that the cement sector remains central to economic growth in the region due to abundant limestone reserves, increasing construction demand and the Northeast’s strategic importance under India’s Act East Policy. However, discussions also identified a major challenge in scaling up low-carbon cement production limited availability of verified information on suitable raw materials and the absence of comprehensive resource assessment systems.

Experts noted that investment decisions in cement manufacturing require reliable geological data and long-term resource visibility, particularly in a sector governed by strict technical standards and high capital investment. Stakeholders stressed the need for systematic exploration, sampling, laboratory validation and development of GIS-based decision-support tools to assess the suitability of kaolinitic clay deposits required for LC3 production.

NECTAR Director General Dr Arun Sarma highlighted the organisation’s ongoing work across the Northeast and said adoption of low-carbon building materials could support local livelihoods while opening opportunities for value addition and potential carbon credit-linked benefits.

The workshop also sought to strengthen institutional coordination among government agencies, industry and technical bodies. Discussions emphasised collaboration with agencies including the Indian Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey of India and state departments of mines and geology to improve validation and accessibility of resource data required for wider adoption of low-carbon cement technologies across the region.