What is CCUS? Government pushes carbon capture and storage for India's Net Zero 2070 goal
NITI Aayog and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on 27 October 2026 described CCUS — carbon capture, utilisation and storage — as a key route to India's Net Zero 2070 target. The impact falls mainly on industries such as power, steel, cement, refineries, chemicals and fertiliser; ordinary consumers have nothing to do right now.
What this means for you
This news does not directly affect an ordinary reader's daily life. It means the government is preparing to stop carbon dioxide from factories and power plants that cannot easily be shut down or switched to electricity. There is no form for the public to fill and no deadline by which anyone must act.
Key facts
- CCUS means catching carbon dioxide from a plant before it is released, then using it or storing it safely underground.
- India's target is net zero emissions by 2070.
- The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a CCUS plan of Rs 20,000 crore over five years for five sectors: power, steel, cement, refineries and chemicals.
- As of August 2026, fossil-fuel based sources were 45.12% of India's total installed power capacity.
- India's first integrated CCUS field laboratory opened at IIT Bombay in May 2026 and can capture up to 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a day.
- The ESTIC-2026 conference is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 27 to 29 October 2026.
What is CCUS
CCUS — carbon capture, utilisation and storage — is a system in which carbon dioxide from factories or power plants is caught before it goes into the air. The gas is then cleaned, compressed and sent onward. The captured gas can be used for a useful purpose or kept safely underground.
Why it is being pushed
India’s target is net zero emissions by 2070. Renewable energy can cut emissions a great deal, but some industries cannot easily run on electricity because they need very high temperatures or carbon-based inputs. NITI Aayog has called CCUS important for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals and fertiliser.
How the process works
In the first step, carbon dioxide is captured at the plant and compressed into a clean, dry, dense form. In the second, it is usually moved by pipeline; ships and other modes can offer flexibility, especially over long distances. In the third step, the gas is either used or stored permanently underground.
Where it is used and stored
Captured carbon dioxide can be used in enhanced oil recovery, food and beverages, urea, green methanol and concrete. For permanent storage, it is injected deep into geological structures such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers and basaltic rock formations.
Hub and cluster model
India’s CCUS framework envisages regional clusters and hubs that link several emitters through shared infrastructure. This can allow shared systems for transport, use and storage. The DST’s CCUS Roadmap 2025 identifies possible regions such as the Gujarat coast, the Odisha–Jharkhand belt and the Northeast.
Government initiatives
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a CCUS plan of Rs 20,000 crore over five years for power, steel, cement, refineries and chemicals. India’s first integrated CCUS field laboratory opened at IIT Bombay in May 2026 and can capture up to 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a day. Separately, the ESTIC-2026 conference is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 27 to 29 October 2026, where emerging technologies including CCUS will be discussed.
What it means for ordinary people
This matter does not directly involve ordinary consumers. There is no application to file and no deadline to meet. The information is mainly relevant to people in industry, research and the environment sector.
Questions and answers
What is CCUS?
CCUS stands for carbon capture, utilisation and storage. Carbon dioxide from factories is caught before it reaches the air, then either used for a useful purpose or stored safely underground.
Do ordinary people need to do anything for CCUS?
No. This is a framework for government, research institutions and industry. No application or deadline has been given for citizens.
Which industries is CCUS meant for?
NITI Aayog has called CCUS important for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals and fertiliser. Emissions from these industries are considered difficult to cut easily.
What did the Budget announce for CCUS?
The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 20,000 crore over five years to promote CCUS in power, steel, cement, refineries and chemicals.
When is India's net zero target?
India's target is net zero emissions by 2070. CCUS is described as a supporting route to that goal.
Source: PIB, "कार्बन कैप्चर, उपयोग और भंडारण", 27 October 2026. Read the original notice
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