Dalmia Cement (Bharat) (DCBL), a leading Indian cement major and a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat, as part of its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint has inducted electric trucks in its fleet. The company says the move will accelerate its sustainability goal of lowering carbon emissions as well as optimise its overall logistics cost. With the introduction of the company’s new EV truck fleet, the Co2 emissions pertaining to the diesel trucks will be reduced significantly.

As part of the initiative’s first phase, two of the proposed 22 high-capacity electric trucks have been put on track and the remaining 20 will be put to use before the end-FY2022. The e-trucks are being supplied by IPL Tech, which is said to be the first manufacturer of high-capacity e-trucks. The company will be plying the trucks to transport slag, a major raw material for cement manufacturing, from the facility of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) at Rourkela to its cement manufacturing unit in Rajgangpur. Additionally, DCBL has commissioned 2 charging stations at its Rajgangpur Unit and three more  charging stations  to be installed by March 2022.

Mahendra Singhi, MD and CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) said: “Achieving environmental sustainability has always been a priority for us at DCBL from a business and a social standpoint. While we are grateful that our government is creating the right policy and investment environment that encourages organisations to take positive environmental action, as private organisations we need to take the lead. DCBL has always led the agenda of creating a holistic business ecosystem that encourages sustainable growth. By introducing our electric vehicle (EV) fleets nationally in partnership with SAIL, we are confident we will be able to achieve our sustainability goals of becoming carbon negative by 2040.”

DCBL says its decision to focus on EV adoption will help improve environmental conditions as well as lower health risks in and around the areas it operates in. Along with leading climate action, reducing pollution, enabling the community through life skills and educational initiatives and promoting optimal use of water resources, the company’s e-trucks initiative will also help ensure renewable energy integration.

Chetan Shrivastav, executive director, DCBL and Unit Head - Rajgangpur, said, “As India’s pioneer in green cement manufacturing, we are making concrete efforts to introduce innovative solutions that promote sustainable transport as well as increase the decarbonisation of our fleet. We are confident that our commitment to walk the green path will pave the way for smarter transport that optimises energy use.”