Goa: The CII-Green Business Centre, through its Energy Efficiency Council, inaugurated the 16th Edition of the Conference on Alternative Fuel & Raw Material Usage (AFR) in Goa on 27 October 2026. Held under the theme “Preparation for Net-Zero: Alternative Fuels & Raw Material in Cement Manufacturing”, the conference brought together 350+ industry leaders, policymakers, waste management experts and technology providers to discuss strategies for accelerating the adoption of alternative fuels and raw materials in the Indian cement industry.
The inaugural was graced by Dr Sharad P. Kale, Special Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa and former Head of Technology Transfer and Collaboration at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Also present were Mr. Harish Adconkar, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation; Dr. L P Singh, Director General, National Council for Cement and Building Materials; Mr. E R Raj Narayanan, Chairman, AFR Conference 2026 and Business Head & Chief Manufacturing Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited; Mr. Mahendra Wani, Chairman, CII Goa State Council & Country Head – Business Segment Siemens Ltd.; and Mr. P V Kiran Ananth, Executive Director – Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Green Entrepreneurship, CII-Green Business Centre.
The discussions highlighted the importance of alternative fuel and raw material (AFR) utilization in reducing dependence on conventional fuels and virgin resources, strengthening waste management systems and advancing circular economy practices. The conference emphasized the need for technological innovation, reliable supply chains and stronger collaboration between the cement industry, waste management organisations, solution providers and government agencies to accelerate the transition towards net-zero cement manufacturing.
Mr. E R Raj Narayanan, Chairman, AFR Conference 2026 and Business Head & Chief Manufacturing Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, setting the theme said, “The Indian cement industry has made significant progress in adopting Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR), building valuable expertise in material processing, quality control, logistics and kiln performance. The next phase must focus on scaling implementation, strengthening capabilities across the value chain and extending circularity beyond fuel substitution to raw materials. By combining operational excellence, continued innovation and industry-wide collaboration, we can unlock AFR’s full potential, improve resource recovery and make it economically viable and environmentally sustainable.”
Mr. Harish Adconkar, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation, said, “Goa has made significant investments in scientific waste management, developing systems for segregation, processing, legacy waste remediation and converting refuse-derived fuel (RDF) into an alternative energy resource. We have supplied approximately 7.65 lakh tonnes of RDF to cement plants, contributing to an estimated coal displacement of 3.2–5.6 lakh tonnes. Going forward, stronger collaboration between urban local bodies, waste management agencies and cement manufacturers, along with consistent RDF offtake, will be essential to meeting the targets under the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 and advancing circularity and sustainable resource utilization.”
Dr. L P Singh, Director General, National Council for Cement and Building Materials, said, “AFR offers the Indian cement industry a significant opportunity to advance decarbonisation while addressing waste management challenges. The fly ash journey demonstrates how innovation and industry collaboration can transform waste into a valuable resource. Replicating this success with AFR will require addressing quality, technology and economic challenges through stronger collaboration among industry, researchers and policymakers to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”
Dr Sharad P. Kale, Special Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa and former Head of Technology Transfer and Collaboration, BARC, said, “The transition to a circular economy begins with a change in mindset—recognising waste as a resource rather than something to be discarded. While technology offers solutions, its application must be guided by sound science and environmental responsibility. Decentralized processing of biodegradable waste, minimizing food waste and maximizing resource recovery are essential to reducing landfill dependence. By learning from nature’s own cycles, we must work towards minimizing waste generation and building a truly zero-waste society.”
Mr. Kiran Ananth, Executive Director – Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Green Entrepreneurship, CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre said “Alternative fuels are among the most immediate and practical levers for decarbonizing the cement sector. India produced approximately 491 million tonnes of cement in FY 2025–26, while the sector’s thermal substitution rate reached 7.5%, utilizing around 7 million tonnes of alternative fuels annually. With over ₹1,200 crore invested in co-processing infrastructure over the past six years, the priority is to maximize existing capacity through reliable RDF supply and quality assurance. India’s municipal waste stream offers significant potential to address both urban waste management and industrial decarbonisation. CII remains committed to fostering collaboration among governments, urban local bodies and industry to accelerate alternative fuel adoption and advance a circular economy.”
Focus on co-processing technologies and industrial best practices
Following the inaugural session, Day 1 featured a panel discussion on “Advanced AFR Co-Processing to Facilitate Net-Zero Transition of Indian Cement Industry: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies,” bringing together industry leaders to discuss pathways to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFR). This was followed by two technical sessions on technological advancements and solutions for AFR pre-processing and co-processing, featuring presentations by technology providers. The afternoon session focused on best practices in alternative fuels utilization in industry, with presentations showcasing industry solutions and approaches to improving resource recovery and fuel utilization. The deliberations highlighted the role of technology, industry collaboration and effective co-processing practices in advancing the cement sector’s transition towards net-zero emissions.
“From Waste to Kiln, Scaling the Use Of MSW-Derived RDF in Indian Cement Plants,” publication launched at the Conference on Alternative Fuels & Raw Materials (AFR) 2026.
The publication, “From Waste to Kiln, Scaling the Use Of MSW-Derived RDF in Indian Cement Plants,” was launched during the inaugural of the of the Conference on Alternative Fuels & Raw Materials (AFR) 2026.
This publication examines how refuse derived fuel (RDF) from MSW can be an enabler for a higher Thermal Substitution Rate (TSR) in cement industries, and how the cement industry’s technological upgradation can improve waste utilization. The central finding of this publication is that the main constraint on higher substitution today is a reliable and consistent supply of RDF of the required quality and not coprocessing capability of cement plants. Most of the kilns that use alternative fuel are already designed for higher substitution than they achieve. What holds them back is fuel that arrives in uneven quantities, with variable moisture, size and calorific value. Building that supply chain, from segregation at source through pre-processing to aggregation across towns, is therefore the first priority for every stakeholder.
The two-day conference will continue on 28 October with sessions on innovative solutions for domestic and industrial waste management, alternative raw materials for low-carbon cement and strategies for scaling up alternative fuel utilization in the Indian cement industry.