TARA, in collaboration with AVPN and NECTAR, organised a regional workshop on "Decarbonising the Cement Sector in North East India through Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC³)" in Shillong, Meghalaya. The workshop brought together stakeholders from the North Eastern Council (NEC), Directorate of Mineral Resources, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), Public Works Department (PWD), World Resources Institute (WRI), Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), and leading cement companies including Star Cement, UltraTech Cement, and Best Cement, alongside academia, government agencies, and the climate finance sector, to explore pathways for accelerating low-carbon cement adoption in the region.

Discussions centered on building an enabling ecosystem for LC³ in North East India. Participants highlighted the need for systematic assessment of regional kaolinitic clay resources, stronger collaboration between industry, government, and research institutions, and greater awareness of LC³ among architects, engineers, and project developers. The role of demonstration projects, availability of raw material, and more supportive procurement practices was discussed as key to building market confidence among manufacturers and buyers alike.

A dedicated panel brought together representatives from industry, government, and academia to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities for scaling LC³ across the region, with particular emphasis on reliable raw-material supply chains and continued institutional collaboration.

The workshop reaffirmed North East India's potential to emerge as a hub for low-carbon cement, given its limestone reserves and established cement manufacturing base, provided regional clay resources are properly mapped and procurement and awareness gaps are addressed.