Essar Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate, has announced plans to establish the world’s first decarbonised green refinery in the UK, as revealed by the Director of Essar Capital Prashant Ruia at the Financial Times Energy Transition Summit 2024. This initiative is part of Essar’s broader sustainability strategy to reduce carbon emissions across key sectors, including energy and transportation.
Essar’s Stanlow refinery will serve as the site for the UK’s first large-scale low-carbon hydrogen hub, designed to produce 350 MW of hydrogen and capture 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually—equivalent to removing 1.1 million cars from the road each year. The refinery currently supplies 16 percent of the UK’s fuel, and Essar’s new initiative aims to reduce its emissions by 95 percent by 2030, in alignment with the UK government’s £20 billion decarbonisation agenda.
In addition, Essar is advancing its green trucking initiatives to address emissions in India’s heavy transportation sector, which contributes over 400 million tonnes of CO2 annually. By deploying a fleet of LNG and electric trucks, Essar targets a 70 percent reduction in trucking emissions. LNG trucks are assigned for long-haul routes, while electric trucks will operate on shorter distances. The company currently has over 500 LNG trucks in operation and plans to expand the fleet significantly.
Essar is also channelling investments into a hybrid renewable energy model featuring battery storage and pumped hydro to provide continuous, reliable power for industrial and consumer use, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainable and responsible energy solutions.