TERI and industry leaders outline strategies to reduce emissions in steel, cement, and oil & gas sectors, stressing innovation, policy frameworks, and collaboration to achieve India’s net-zero ambitions.
Decarbonizing India’s most carbon-intensive industries—steel, cement, and oil & gas—emerged as a central theme at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) Global Summit on Sustainability 2025. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), acting as Knowledge Partner, co-hosted a technical session titled “Hard-to-Abate Sectors: Decarbonization in Action”, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, green technology innovators, academicians, and investors to discuss pathways for low-carbon growth.
The dialogue was framed under TERI’s Industry Charter for Near Zero Emission Ambition by 2050, showcasing case studies and breakthrough technologies aimed at cutting emissions from heavy industries. Speakers emphasized that achieving net-zero in these sectors will require not just technological innovation, but also robust policy frameworks, financial support, and collaboration across industries.
Opening the session, Arupendra Nath Mullick, Associate Director, TERI-Council for Business Sustainability, underlined the crucial role of businesses in driving the low-carbon economy. “Heavy industries will continue to provide the backbone of a modern economy. What matters is how quickly we align business opportunities with low-carbon solutions,” he said.
The session was moderated by RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, who stressed the importance of sector-specific roadmaps for India’s climate goals. “India has already announced its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). The next step is detailed sectoral frameworks, covering technology, finance, and demand management, to guide the net-zero transition,” he noted.
Industry leaders shared ground-level insights into decarbonization challenges and solutions:
- Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director-Strategy & External Relations, Jindal Steel Ltd., pointed to the complexities in greening the steel sector, particularly for small and medium enterprises that produce nearly 40% of India’s steel. “The real challenge lies in reducing blast furnace emissions and enabling SMEs to adopt cleaner technologies,” he remarked.
- Sangeet Jain, VP-ESG Strategy & Alliances, LanzaTech Pvt Ltd., showcased carbon recycling technologies that convert industrial waste gases into ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, and consumer products like polyester. “With biology-driven recycling, India has the potential to mainstream carbon-smart chemicals at scale,” he said.
- Yogesh Patgunan, Circular Economy Strategist, Sperry Green Technology Pvt Ltd., highlighted solutions for plastics such as PP, ABS, and HIPS through waste audits, reverse logistics, and advanced recycling. “Our focus is to turn hard-to-abate plastics into profitable circular solutions with full digital traceability,” he explained.
The session reinforced that decarbonization of heavy industries is both a technological and systemic challenge, requiring innovation, financing models, and strong industry commitment. As Knowledge Partner, TERI reaffirmed its role in driving collaboration through its Industry Charter, fostering partnerships to pilot scalable solutions and support India’s long-term climate objectives.