Amplus Solar Bags 56 MW Solar Plant Contract from JK Lakshmi Cement

The cement industry is a major carbon emitter and employing renewable sources of energy could help them curb produce green electricity and control carbon footprint. Cement firms have begun to take note of this all and taking initiatives in this direction. Cement major JK Lakshmi Cement is the latest firm headed towards renewables. The firm has signed a PPA with distributed energy company Amplus Solar for the establishment of a 56 MW worth capacity of solar power plant, which is to come up in Durg facility, Chhattisgarh.

The establishment of a solar power plant will enable JK Lakshmi Cement to replace 92 million units with green electricity. Consequently, the firm’s CO2 emissions will slide by 73,000 Metric Tons.

With this plant, Amplus Solar will cement its position in the Chhattisgarh market with a total open access capacity of 118 MWp in the state.

“It is wonderful to see that the forerunners of India’s cement sector have chosen to further their objective of creating zero-carbon cement. JK Lakshmi Cement’s approach will help the industry decarbonize the sector and serve as a model for others to follow,” said Sharad Pungalia, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Amplus Solar.

Vinita Singhania, Vice Chairperson & Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. said, “In recent years, we have undertaken multiple projects to lower the carbon footprint. Our recently initiated campaign, ‘Green Pahal, Behtar Kal’, focuses on creating awareness about improving energy efficiency and saving the environment. I am sure, we will leave a greener planet for our future generations.”

Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., added, “We support country’s vision to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. As a responsible corporate, we have taken multiple steps to reduce both direct and indirect carbon emissions. Last month, for the first time in India, we deployed LNG trucks to transport the raw material. Now with switching to solar energy at our Durg Plant, nearly 80% of energy requirement of the plant will be met through renewable energy source.”

Recently, another cement firm Shree Cement had shared that it had installed 3 MW worth of capacity across its three factories located in Beawar, Panipat and Haridwar.

The cement industry, being energy-intensive, scales up manufacturing costs drastically. At the same time, they are confronted with the challenge of shortage of power. Solar power can prove to be the saving grace for cement factories, which are often located in dry and hot areas, that are favourable for solar energy.