Green Cementech 2026 Focuses on Low-Carbon Construction and AI-Driven Solutions

As the cement industry sharpens its focus on sustainability and low-carbon manufacturing, Green Cementech 2026 has brought focus to discussions on green materials, net-zero pathways, and emerging technologies in Hyderabad.

The 22nd edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) flagship annual conference and expo for the cement sector commenced at the HICC Novotel. Organized by CII Green Business Centre (CII-GBC) in partnership with the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), the event has brought together over 400 industry stakeholders including policymakers, cement manufacturers, technology providers, researchers, and sustainability experts.

Highlighting the growing role of sustainable materials in the built environment, C. Shekar Reddy, National Chairman, CII Indian Green Building Council, said the cement sector remains central to advancing green buildings and climate-resilient infrastructure. He noted that the adoption of low-carbon materials will be critical to achieving national climate targets, adding that IGBC’s 32 regional chapters are actively promoting awareness on sustainable construction practices among architects, developers, engineers, urban planners, consultants, and students.

Addressing delegates at the inaugural session, ER Raj Narayanan, Co-Chairman, Green Cementech 2026, and Business Head & Chief Manufacturing Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, said the cement industry is playing a key role in India’s infrastructure growth while aligning with sustainability goals. He said the event theme, ‘Road towards Net Zero Carbon,’ reflects the direction in which the Indian cement sector is moving.

The cement sector must increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, material intelligence, waste utilisation, and performance-based standards to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, said Masood Mallick, Chairman, CII National Committee on Waste to Worth Technologies and Managing Director & CEO, Re Sustainability Limited, while stressing the need for circular economy models in cement manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Aparna Dutt Sharma, Secretary General, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), India, highlighted the importance of industry collaboration in driving decarbonisation. She said partnerships between industry bodies, manufacturers, and policy stakeholders will be critical in accelerating sustainable growth across the sector.

Key highlights of the conference include the launch of the publication ‘Carbon Capture: Technologies, Economics, and Scale-up Pathways’, panel discussions on net-zero strategies, and sessions focused on emerging technologies in cement manufacturing.

The event also featured a concurrent expo with over 50 exhibitors showcasing solutions in energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and smart manufacturing, alongside technical sessions and leadership dialogues focused on advancing a low-carbon and digitally enabled cement ecosystem.