JSW Cement begins EV trials to reduce carbon footprint in logistics

JSW Cement, part of the $23 billion JSW Group, has commenced a pilot of electric vehicles (EV trucks) trials as part of its plan to significantly reduce carbon footprint in logistics operations. The company plans to replace fossil fuel-based vehicles with EV trucks across its cement manufacturing operations.

JSW Cement has initiated the pilot project by integrating five EV trucks on the route of its manufacturing operations in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Currently, JSW Cement’s carbon emission intensity is 173 kg/tonne, which is about 30% of the global cement sector’s average of 590 kg/tonnes. The company ranks first in the Sustainalytics ESG risk rating globally in the construction material industry group comprising more than 140 companies. 

From this pilot project, JSW Cement expects to avoid more than 150 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed annually by 6,000 trees.

JSW Cement currently has a capacity of 19 million tonnes per annum in India. It plans to add 2 million tonnes during this calendar year (2023) with a medium-term plan of achieving 60 million tonnes capacity in the next 5 years. During this period, the company intends to make significant investments in various interventions to reduce its carbon emissions.

JSW Cement has procured the EV trucks from Murugappa Group. Upon successful completion of the pilot project, the company aims to transition to EV trucks to support its inbound and out-bound logistics operations across all the manufacturing units.