Calix is pleased to announce the execution of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) between Leilac Limited and the Adani Group’s Ambuja Cements. The partnership aims to jointly develop a commercial-scale cement project at the Ambuja Cements’ Sanghi plant in Gujarat, India.
Highlights:
- Calix subsidiary, Leilac Limited (Leilac) has executed a JDA and commenced a project with Adani’s Ambuja Cements that aims to deploy the Leilac technology for low-cost, low-carbon cement production at commercial scale.
- The project aims to retrofit the Leilac technology to the Sanghi cement plant in Gujarat, India.
- An initial commercial demonstration phase is designed to assess the Leilac technology to reduce emissions, lower fuel consumption and increase the use of renewable electricity in cement manufacturing.
- Subject to successful demonstration, the project aims to expand to capture more than 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
- Leilac and Ambuja Cements will jointly develop the project to enable a go / no go decision to proceed with construction.
- No capital contribution is required from Calix or Leilac towards the project at any stage.
- Leilac and Ambuja Cements intend to negotiate a technology licence agreement prior to a go / no go decision.
- The project is designed to provide an accelerated and cost-effective route to commercial deployment of the Leilac technology in the global cement market.
About the Leilac project at the Sanghi cement plant
Located at Ambuja Cements’ Sanghi cement plant in Sanghipuram, Gujarat’s Kutch district, which has a total clinker production capacity of 6.6 million tonnes per year, the Leilac technology will aim to deliver two key benefits:
- Reduced energy costs and fuel emissions via hybrid electric heating.
- Improve the economics of carbon capture, strengthening the business case for large-scale deployment of carbon capture and utilisation.
The project aims to retrofit the Leilac technology with minimal downtime for the Sanghi cement plant through a phased deployment. A first commercial demonstration module is designed to enable technology development and evaluation. Subject to successful demonstration, the project could be expanded to capture more than 1 million tonnes of process carbon dioxide per annum, helping establish a scalable pathway for low-carbon cement production in India and beyond.
Karan Adani, Director, Ambuja Cements, said: “The cement industry’s transition to a lower-carbon future will require bold thinking, technological innovation and collaboration across the value chain. Our partnership with Leilac reflects our commitment to evaluating next-generation technologies that can reduce process emissions while improving energy efficiency and supporting long-term sustainable growth. This initiative aligns with our vision of building world-class manufacturing operations for the future.”
Daniel Rennie, CEO, Leilac Limited, said: “Ambuja Cements operates one of the world’s largest and most advanced cement manufacturing networks. We’re delighted to begin this collaboration to deliver a commercial-scale project for low-cost, low-carbon cement production. Together, we aim to demonstrate an economic, replicable and future-proof solution for the global cement industry.”
A Joint Development Agreement for commercial deployment of the Leilac technology
Leilac and Ambuja Cements will jointly undertake an engineering study to enable a go/no-go decision to proceed with construction. There is no capital required during the development phase and, if a decision is made to construct, no capital is required from Calix or Leilac during the construction, commissioning or operating of the plant. Further project milestones and timelines will be established during the engineering study. Leilac will support the project’s development from its existing internal resources. Adani will support the project from its own internal, as well as external engineering resources. The go / no go decision is targeted in 2027, with a back stop date of June 2028. Prior to the go/no-go decision, Leilac and Ambuja Cements intend to negotiate a licence agreement for use of the Leilac technology.
About Adani’s Ambuja Cements Limited
Ambuja Cements Limited is the 9th largest building materials solutions company globally, a key part of the diversified Adani Group – the country’s fastest-growing portfolio of sustainable businesses. With a cement capacity of 109 MTPA across 24 integrated manufacturing plants and 22 grinding units, Ambuja Cements is at the forefront of building a greener, stronger India.
The Company is accelerating its decarbonisation journey through investments in 1 GW of renewable energy (solar + wind), 376 MW of Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS) by FY’28. The Company has strategic partnerships with Leilac to develop commercial-scale Low-Carbon Cement and with Coolbrook to deploy zero-carbon RotoDynamic Heater™ (RDH™) technology. Ambuja Cements has achieved 12x water positivity and 7x plastic negativity. It is committed to net-zero by 2050, being amongst the four large-scale building materials companies in the world, with its near-term and net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Its innovative products are listed in the GRIHA product catalogue, and the Company operates a captive port network with ten terminals for cleaner, cost-effective bulk cement shipments. Recognised among ‘India’s Most Trusted Cement Brands’ by TRA Research, Ambuja Cements holds a ‘Leadership Score’ of A by CDP and is the world’s first cement manufacturer to join the Alliance for Industrial Decarbonization (AFID), a global alliance facilitated by IRENA.
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