As a rapidly developing country, India faces
significant challenges to meet energy and water
needs. Demand for energy is expected to grow
annually at an average rate of 3.1% over the next
25 years whereas economic growth will likely
increase 8-9%. Although India has historically
enjoyed large freshwater reserves, some regions
already face water scarcity. An increasing
population and overexploitation will further pressure
India’s resources in the years to come.
In environmental terms, cement production is a
high-impact business, using large amounts of
energy and contributing 5% of global carbon
dioxide emissions. Pollutants are often discharged
in the cooling process and disposed of as
run-off water, which affects ecosystems and
human health. It will be crucial for Indian cement
companies to find ways to improve energy
efficiency and reduce water consumption. Only
then can they achieve growth and support India’s
development without harming the community.