India Exempts Standalone Cement Grinding Plants from Environmental Clearance

In a draft notification issued on September 26, 2025, the Indian environment ministry has proposed exempting standalone cement grinding units from the requirement of obtaining prior environmental clearance. The ministry has observed that these standalone grinding units, which do not have captive power plants and transport raw materials and finished products via railways or electric vehicles, have significantly lower carbon emissions, generate less waste, and utilize less energy compared to integrated cement plants.

The ministry's expert appraisal committee has recommended the exemption, noting that it will encourage green logistics and environmental governance. Currently, standalone grinding units are classified as Category 'B' projects and are further categorized based on their mode of transportation, with units transporting more than 90% of raw materials and finished products by rail being classified as B2.

While experts agree that the transportation methods used by these grinding units reduce the potential for pollution, they have recommended strict rules on how the units should function and store their raw materials. Cement production is known to be a major contributor to CO2 emissions and air pollution, particularly particulate matter, as well as other pollutants such as SO2, NOx, and volatile organic compounds.