Telangana Sagar Cements Advances Biochar Gasification Shift

Sagar Cements Limited has taken a strategic step in decarbonising heavy industrial activity in Telangana, entering a decade-long partnership with climate technology specialist Sow & Reap Chara to deploy biochar and gasification units at its Mattampally cement works. The initiative is designed to cut reliance on fossil fuels in cement production’s most energy-intensive phase, potentially setting a new benchmark for sustainability in India’s hard-to-abate industrial clusters. 

Cement manufacturing is globally recognised as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the fuel and heat required in clinker production. Integrating biomass-derived syngas, produced through gasification of agricultural residues, offers a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels in generating process heat. Under the agreement, locally sourced crop residues will be converted into syngas for use in the plant, while a carbon-rich by-product, biochar, will be channeled back to rural markets as soil-enhancing material. Industry planners say this model could help address two persistent challenges in India’s industrial-agrarian interface: seasonal crop waste burning, which exacerbates air pollution, and the cement sector’s pathway to net-zero emissions by 2030. Sagar Cements has formally committed to that net-zero target, and the collaboration provides a scalable mechanism to reduce Scope 1 emissions — those from direct fuel combustion — without compromising manufacturing output. 

Each gasification unit has been designed to process approximately 15,000 tonnes of biomass annually, producing about 3,750 tonnes of biochar and offsetting an estimated 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ per unit. The first phase will see four units commissioned, potentially reducing as much as 25,000 tonnes of emissions per year at the Mattampally site alone once fully operational. Sow & Reap Chara plans a broader rollout encompassing up to 20 units in the coming years. Beyond immediate emission reductions, the project aligns with emerging industrial strategies to integrate biochar into circular carbon economy frameworks. Biochar’s porous structure not only stabilises carbon long-term when applied to soils but may also enhance soil health and fertility — a form of negative emissions technology that supports agriculture and climate resilience simultaneously. 

Urban planners and sustainability analysts note that pairing industrial decarbonisation with local value creation strengthens the social fabric around manufacturing hubs, embodying a people-first approach to infrastructure transformation. The revenue potential from carbon credit issuance — estimated in the hundreds of thousands annually once scale is reached — could further incentivise private investment into clean-tech solutions. 

While the immediate environmental benefits are promising, stakeholders emphasise the importance of transparent monitoring and community engagement as deployment expands. Success here could inform replication across India’s broader cement industry, bolstering climate commitments without sacrificing growth.

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Telangana Sagar Cements Advances Biochar Gasification Shift