India's aluminium sector seeks $29 billion investment for net-zero carbon goals, CEEW finds

In the fiscal year 2019-20, the Indian aluminium industry, integral to both the power sector and economy, discharged 77 million tonnes of CO₂. Predominantly, 80 per cent of these emissions stemmed from electricity usage. A research project reveals that transitioning to a net-zero emissions aluminium industry would entail a 61 per cent cost increase, amounting to an additional INR 26,049 crore in annual operating expenses (OPEX).

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water, commonly known as CEEW, is a Not-For profit Think Tank and policy institution based in New Delhi, India. CEEW was formed to provide independent research-based insights to policymakers for building a sustainable India.

CEEW's study provides a Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC) curve, delineating technologies capable of facilitating industry decarbonisation alongside their respective costs.

To meet India's climate goals, Hemant Mallya, CEEW Fellow, stressed the importance of capital investment and scaling up from different sectors.