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A leading entity in India's iron and steel sector engaged The Carbon Collective Company to develop a comprehensive decarbonisation roadmap — covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions across mining, processing, and logistics — and to benchmark their carbon intensity against industry peers. The resulting strategy delivered a projected 61.5% reduction in carbon intensity per tonne of ore produced.
The Client and Their Decarbonisation Ambition
The client operates significant iron and steel facilities in Maharashtra, including the Ghugus and Konsari steel plants and the Surjagarh iron ore mines. With a strong reputation in mining and production, they recognised that climate regulation and stakeholder expectations were converging in a way that required a structured, evidence-based response. Their objective was not simply to report emissions, but to build a credible, costed roadmap that positioned the business as a leader in sustainable industrial practice — one capable of substantiating its environmental claims to investors, government ministries, and commercial partners.
Emission Profile and Priority Areas
The GHG assessment revealed a concentration of emissions across four areas. Diesel combustion — both stationary and mobile — represented the largest source, driven by heavy reliance on diesel-powered vehicles and mining machinery. Electricity consumption was the second major contributor, reflecting the energy intensity of ore beneficiation and processing. Fugitive emissions from refrigerants, specifically R-134a and R-410A, were identified as a material risk linked to leakage and maintenance practices. Process emissions from Bulk Emulsion Explosives, while proportionally smaller, were flagged as an area requiring targeted improvement. The assessment also modelled a baseline trajectory — projecting emissions forward under a no-change scenario — to quantify the financial and regulatory risk of inaction.
The Decarbonisation Strategy
Five intervention areas formed the core of the roadmap. On diesel, the strategy sets out a phased transition to biodiesel, hydrogen, and electric alternatives — with EVs and light motor vehicles prioritised for electrification by end of 2025, powered by solar energy. On electricity, the client is evaluating a 20MW on-site solar plant at the mine, which would eliminate 100% of Scope 2 emissions associated with grid consumption and supply the power required for electrified mining fleet. On fugitive emissions, enhanced leak detection, transition to low global warming potential refrigerants, and strengthened staff training protocols address both compliance risk and ongoing release. On process emissions, optimised usage of Bulk Emulsion Explosives and improved waste management practices reduce process-related carbon output. Across all areas, the roadmap includes infrastructure upgrades at both the mine site and processing facilities to improve baseline operational efficiency.
Outcomes and Commercial Impact
The analysis demonstrated that moving from the current operating scenario to the recommended decarbonisation scenario would reduce the client's carbon intensity from its current baseline to a level representing a 61.5% reduction per tonne of ore produced. The cost-benefit analysis confirmed that several of the key measures — particularly the solar plant and EV transition — generate significant cost savings over time, making the business case for investment clear. Importantly, the client's carbon intensity is already below the average for comparable industry peers, which the roadmap positions as a commercial differentiator rather than simply a compliance matter. The strategy was presented to government ministries and commercial stakeholders with comprehensive, data-driven reporting. The client's own assessment, as expressed in their feedback, was that the work was comprehensive, technically rigorous, and met all objectives.