Calix and Ambuja Cements Partner on Commercial-Scale Cement Carbon Capture Project in India

smallcaps.com.au

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Calix subsidiary Leilac has signed a joint development agreement with Ambuja Cements to deploy its hybrid electric heating and carbon capture technology at the Sanghi cement plant in Gujarat, India. The project aims to capture over 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year from cement production, targeting one of the world's largest cement markets. Calix retains all IP and will not contribute upfront capital; Ambuja funds construction after a go/no-go decision following the engineering study. The deal is notable for its capital-light structure, with Calix relying on future technology license fees and royalties. If successful, it could offer a replicable model for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial emissions. The 24-month JDA includes a phased retrofit to minimize plant downtime, and the Sanghi site has a clinker capacity of 6.6 Mtpa. This is Leilac's first cement project meeting its priority criteria of no capital contribution and an accelerated path to scale.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Calix and Ambuja teaming up on cement carbon capture in India. 1 Mt CO2/yr target, capital light for Calix. Worth watching if they can scale this.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Yeah, the no upfront capex for Calix is smart. Ambuja funds after the study. But 24 months JDA with 30 day termination clause feels short for a commercial project.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The hybrid electric heating part is interesting. They plan to use renewable electricity. But what's the grid connection like at Sanghi? Gujarat has decent renewables but industrial load is huge.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. Article doesn't mention grid capacity or if they plan on-site solar. Also, 1 Mt CO2 from a 6.6 Mt clinker plant means they're only capturing process emissions, not all.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

India doesn't have a carbon price yet, so this is purely voluntary or future-proofing. Ambuja might be eyeing export markets or internal sustainability targets. Policy gap is real.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Retrofitting a cement kiln with minimal downtime is the hard part. Phased deployment helps but I'd want to see the engineering study before getting excited. Cement plants run hot and continuous.