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Shree Cement: The New Sustainability

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Champion 10 factors that helped it make the gradeThere is a reason for putting Shree Cement on the cover in this issue. For an industry much maligned for its environmental impact, it is always welcome when members of this sector are honoured for their ability to practice innovative business solutions with sustainable development activities. The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) by identifying and honouring Shree Cement as one of the 16 new Sustainability Champion Companies, has ensured that the sector will work even more zealously to earn more laurels for the sector.World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have worked globally to identify New Sustainability Champion Companies that practice innovative business solutions with sustainable development objectives. As an initial part of this identification process, over 11 million projects / companies were screened. Following which, a few companies were further selected through a due diligence process, taking into consideration the sustainability aspect inculcated by them in their business. The top management personnel from around 200 of these short-listed companies were then engaged in a personal interview. They were interviewed on various related fields, considering their approach and work towards sustainability, innovation, scalability, geography and size. Based upon a detailed interview of Prashant Bangur, Executive Joint President of Shree Cement Limited (SCL), WEF identified SCL as one amongst 16 New World Sustainability Champions.Driving sustainabilityShree Cement inculcates sustainability in its business frame work based on the philosophy ‘Aah NA Bhadra: Kratavo Yantu Vishwatah’ (Let noble thought come to us from all over the world). The company’s sustainability policy aims to produce quality cement in in a socially responsible manner, with an eco-friendly, healthy and safe working environment approach, working toward continual improvement in the performance level."Our continual thirst to become steward in all spheres has led us to this reputed platform where we stand today," says Prashant Bangur, Executive Joint President of Shree Cement.The company has a 10-fold approach to ensure sustainability in all operations:Creativity and innovationShree Cement encourages its employees to think ‘Out of Box’, its "Jo Soche Wo Pave" scheme encouraged employees to provide innovative ideas and suggestions which are rewarded and communicated to spread the culture of innovative thinking."We believe that success comes through failure. Allowing failures encourage creative thinking and develop the attitude of creativity, risk taking and ultimately high performance," says Prashant Bangur.Employee creative ideas and innovations:

  • Developed synthetic gypsum to replace mineral gypsum for the first time in India.
  • Set a world record of commissioning a brown field clinkerization unit in a record time of 330 days.
  • Set a world record of commissioning a 46 MW of Waste Heat Recovery Based Green Power Plant in 17 months against the industry standard of 24 months.
  • Air lifted coal and raw mill from Germany to reduce the project execution time.
  • Installed the second largest waste heat recovery system in the world.

Resource and Energy ConservationA holistic view of Sustainability and care for the future generation through:

  • Conserving resources to ensure its availability for the future generation
  • Reducing emissions, cleaning environment and combating climate change

As an attempt to conserve fossil fuel, Shree Cement pioneered the use of petcoke as a replacement of fossil coal for the first time in India. Pet-coke has the properties of high sulphur, low volatile matter and harder grinding. Use of pet-coke came along with lots of constraints such as kiln jamming, low production and product quality but it also came as an opportunity to save precious fossil fuels. The company carried out extensive R&D and succeeded in pioneering its 100 per cent usage both in cement and power.Another initiative was to install India’s largest Air Cooled Condenser in its 2 X 150 MW power plant to replace the conventional water-cooled condensers, that ensured a current savings of 1 million KL water every year.One of the first process and cement manufacturing company in the world to obtain BS-EN 16001 Energy Management Certification, Shree Cement maintains one of lowest specific energy consumption for manufacturing its products.Environment FriendlinessThe company follows the philosophy of a Low Carbon Economy and work while following the maxim of clean and green is profitable. "They are members of various climate change initiatives like Cement Sustainability Initiative under the auspices of World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD)- Switzerland, GRI, TERI-BCSD etc.Waste UtilizationShree Cement began optimal use of fly ash in the cement manufacturing process in order to address the issues of fly ash disposal of power plants, while providing affordable cement to consumers and making planet better place. Use in cement makes the fly ash value added product thereby conserving limestone and fuels. The practice of using fly ash upto 35 per cent (which is maximum limit allowed by law), resulted in Shree Cement becoming the first cement manufacturing company in India to obtain CDM benefits for the same beginning July 2000.Similarly, the disposal of lead zinc slag was a serious problem for the zinc smelters. "However, our zeal to be opportunistic manufacturer provided us the threshold to utilise lead zinc slag, a waste of other industry thereby making us capable for laterite replacement from our operation. It also marked our "industrial ecologist" instinct. Besides, we have also demonstrated the use of agro-waste as a fuel replacement which is under validation for obtaining CDM benefits," says Prashant Bangur.The policy of Zero Disposals on LandMaintaining the lowest cost of production through:

  • Continual benchmarking with best achievements within Shree Cement and outside
  • Culture of challenging the established norms to find scope for further improvement
  • Focus on use of alternate raw material and fuels.

Empowering PeopleThe company empowers people by providing them with challenging roles, higher responsibilities, multi-skill jobs, faster career growth and healthy working practices; and encourage the youth.Engaging Local CommunityThe company promotes maximum employment from local community, in order to generate sustainable livelihood by assisting local community to engage in various livelihood creation activities. To ensure total prosperity in the community, it actively engages in initiatives focusing on infrastructure and water harvesting structure development, healthcare and women empowerment programs, educational awareness programs and plantation activities.Embracing New Technology"Our continuous focus is on technologies for enabling faster decisions through increasing speed and accuracy and releasing time which can be put to other productive uses," says Bangur. It is one of the first cement companies to implement ‘Operator Independent Truck Dispatch System’ at mines for automated truck dispatch. It also introduced remote surveillance system to track progress of projects on real time basis from office.Health and SafetyThe company’s facilities are certified to the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard. Committed to achieving its goal of becoming ‘Zero Accident Work Place’, Personal Protective Equipment is provided to all workers on the shop floor and their use is strictly enforced.Transparency and GovernanceThe company maintains an open door policy of inviting competitors and outsiders to visit its plants to interchange ideas. "We have highly analytical annual report covering detailed financial and non financial information. We are the first cement company to issue Corporate Sustainability Report based upon GRI guidelines," says Prashant Bangur.Successful implementation of some of the projects at SCL:-Thermal power plants have traditionally used Water Cooled Condenser (WCC) systems. Bearing in mind the location of our operations in one of India’s most water scarce regions, we operationalized the switch from a Water Cooled Condenser to Air Cooled Condenser system. Retrofitting of the old system to convert it to ACC was a challenging task requiring considerable skill; the retrofitting task was completed and the ACC was commissioned without any alignment problems.Implementation of air cooled condensers at its power plant in Beawar has enabled reduced water consumption by about 70 per cent.Waste heat utilization of Preheater & clinker coolerTwo major sources of heat rejection In a cement plant are pre-heater and clinker cooler hot gases. Waste heat recovery system installation in these two sources not only generates electricity also saves water for cooling down the gases. "Our earlier experience with the waste heat boiler in unit-I gave a strong background for installation of waste heat recovery system in other units with improved systems to generate electricity as well as to save the water used to cool down the gases," says Bangur. This has reduced water consumption by about 85 per cent in the power plant and 50 per cent in clinker production.

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Concrete

Cement Makers Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Growth

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World Environment Day spotlight on innovation and circularity

On World Environment Day, the Indian cement industry reiterated its commitment to supporting India’s climate ambitions through sustainable manufacturing, resource efficiency and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) said the sector remains aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitments and is accelerating efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while supporting the country’s infrastructure and development agenda.

Parth Jindal, President, CMA and Managing Director, JSW Cement, said the industry is increasingly adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of alternative fuels and raw materials. He also highlighted the growing importance of circular economy practices, where industrial by-products and waste streams from one sector are utilised as resources in another.

“The Indian Cement Industry is aligned to the Government’s commitments on carbon mitigation and is accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy practices while actively exploring the potential of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical pathway for deep decarbonisation,” said Jindal.

He added that coprocessing industrial waste and by-products helps conserve natural resources, reduce disposal requirements and lower the environmental footprint across multiple sectors.

According to Jindal, sustainability is no longer limited to manufacturing processes but is increasingly influencing investment decisions, innovation strategies and long-term growth plans within the industry.

Echoing similar views, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA and Managing Director, JK Cement, said sustainable development extends beyond emissions reduction and must also focus on responsible resource utilisation and waste minimisation.

“Sustainability in the built environment cannot be measured by emissions alone. It is equally about how efficiently we use resources, how effectively we minimise waste and how responsibly we create the infrastructure that will serve future generations,” said Singhania.

He noted that the cement industry is advancing its sustainability agenda through greater resource efficiency, increased circularity, technological innovation and continuous improvements in manufacturing practices. As a key contributor to India’s infrastructure development, the sector has a critical role to play in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting India’s climate goals while delivering the materials required for resilient, durable and sustainable infrastructure.

 

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Concrete

Building a Greener Future Together

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Environmental sustainability requires immediate action, not just long-term commitments and discussions. Recycling, circular economy practices, and technology-driven waste management can help industries reduce environmental impact while supporting sustainable growth.

Author: Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax Technology

World Environment Day serves as an important reminder that environmental sustainability can no longer remain confined to discussions, reports, or long-term commitments. The environmental challenges facing the world today demand immediate, measurable, and collective action. Across industries and communities, waste generation continues to outpace our ability to process it responsibly, placing increasing pressure on ecosystems, natural resources, public health, and the well-being of future generations.

One of the most significant shifts required today is a change in how society perceives waste. Rather than being viewed as a material to be discarded, waste must be recognised as a valuable resource that can contribute to both economic growth and environmental protection when managed through the right technologies and systems. This mindset forms the foundation of the circular economy model that countries across the world are increasingly adopting to reduce landfill dependence, recover valuable materials, and create more sustainable industrial ecosystems.

India has made meaningful progress in strengthening awareness around sustainability, recycling, and environmental responsibility over the past decade. Significant efforts are being made to formalise the recycling sector through improved infrastructure, technology adoption, policy implementation, and broader stakeholder participation. These developments are creating a stronger foundation for responsible waste management and resource recovery across the country.

However, achieving long-term environmental impact requires collaboration from all stakeholders. Industries, policymakers, technology providers, and communities must work together with greater accountability to strengthen recycling ecosystems, encourage responsible waste management practices, and create sustainable outcomes through consistent execution rather than temporary interventions.

As someone closely associated with the recycling industry, I firmly believe that technology will play a decisive role in addressing future environmental challenges. Advanced recycling systems have the potential to recover valuable resources, reduce pollution, minimise landfill burdens, and conserve energy, creating a more sustainable future for generations to come. This belief is deeply reflected in Fornnax’s motto, “Committed to Create a Green Future,” which embodies our commitment to building long-term environmental value through innovation and responsible action.

At the same time, technology alone cannot deliver meaningful change. Real progress requires intent, awareness, participation, and a shared sense of responsibility. Sustainable development can only be achieved when innovation is supported by collective action and a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship.

On this World Environment Day, let us move beyond conversations and take meaningful steps towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable planet. By embracing innovation, strengthening recycling ecosystems, and acting responsibly today, we can create lasting environmental impact and secure a better future for generations to come.

Continue Reading

Concrete

Dalmia Bharat Acquires Jaiprakash Associates Cement Assets for ₹2,850 Crore

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Dalmia Cement executed a Business Transfer Agreement with Jaiprakash Associates and Adani Infra, to acquire 5.2 MnTPA of cement capacity across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) announced on May 22, 2026 that it had signed a Business Transfer Agreement with Jaiprakash Associates Limited and Adani Infra (India) Limited for the acquisition of cement plants located at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and Churk, Chunar and Sadwa in Uttar Pradesh. The deal was struck at an enterprise value of ₹2,850 crore and is expected to close within two weeks of execution.

The acquired assets from Jaiprakash Associates include 5.2 MnTPA of cement capacity and 3.3 MnTPA of clinker capacity. The package also covers 99 MW of thermal power capacity and railway sidings at Rewa, Chunar, and a common siding at Churk. This infrastructure gives the acquisition immediate operational utility beyond just production tonnage.

The transaction has a long backstory. Dalmia Cement had originally entered into a framework agreement with Jaiprakash Associates in December 2022, covering the sale of these business assets along with a long-term clinker supply arrangement. However, before the deal could be completed, Jaiprakash Associates was admitted to insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The earlier agreements could not be consummated as a result.

In an official statement, Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director & CEO, Dalmia Bharat, said, “I am very excited about addition of these assets in our portfolio. This serves as a great strategic fit for Dalmia. It helps us move forward in our journey to be a pan India player and provide a strong head start to serve the high potential markets in Central region. I am optimistic that the expansion potential of these assets along with close proximity with Dalmia’s captive mines will help us create a capacity hub for the future”.

Following the approval of Adani Group’s resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates under the IBC framework, Dalmia approached the new management to revive discussions. The fresh Business Transfer Agreement was executed to settle all pending disputes, legal proceedings, and arbitration matters arising from the original framework agreement with Jaiprakash Associates.

Expanding market reach

Dalmia added, “Our familiarity with these assets under the earlier tolling arrangement gives us a deep understanding of the facilities and helps us establish strong connect with channel partners and vendors. We believe that this will help us in faster ramp up of capacities and quicker inroads into the market. As we look forward, I am very confident that we will be able to leverage the strengths of Dalmia to operate these assets in a manner where we can maximise value creation for all our stakeholders.”

With the addition of these plants, Dalmia Bharat’s total installed cement capacity will rise to 54.7 MnTPA upon consummation. The company has further expansion projects underway at Belgaum, Pune, and Kadapa, which are expected to take overall capacity to 66.7 MnTPA by Q2 to Q3 FY28.

The Central India location of the Jaiprakash Associates plants gives Dalmia Bharat faster access to markets in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh than a greenfield build would have allowed. The company also cited debottlenecking and brownfield expansion as near-term opportunities at the acquired sites. Dalmia Bharat said the assets were expected to contribute positively to EBITDA and overall returns, given the pricing environment in the region and the company’s cost structure.

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    Shree Cement: The New Sustainability

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    Champion 10 factors that helped it make the gradeThere is a reason for putting Shree Cement on the cover in this issue. For an industry much maligned for its environmental impact, it is always welcome when members of this sector are honoured for their ability to practice innovative business solutions with sustainable development activities. The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) by identifying and honouring Shree Cement as one of the 16 new Sustainability Champion Companies, has ensured that the sector will work even more zealously to earn more laurels for the sector.World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have worked globally to identify New Sustainability Champion Companies that practice innovative business solutions with sustainable development objectives. As an initial part of this identification process, over 11 million projects / companies were screened. Following which, a few companies were further selected through a due diligence process, taking into consideration the sustainability aspect inculcated by them in their business. The top management personnel from around 200 of these short-listed companies were then engaged in a personal interview. They were interviewed on various related fields, considering their approach and work towards sustainability, innovation, scalability, geography and size. Based upon a detailed interview of Prashant Bangur, Executive Joint President of Shree Cement Limited (SCL), WEF identified SCL as one amongst 16 New World Sustainability Champions.Driving sustainabilityShree Cement inculcates sustainability in its business frame work based on the philosophy ‘Aah NA Bhadra: Kratavo Yantu Vishwatah’ (Let noble thought come to us from all over the world). The company’s sustainability policy aims to produce quality cement in in a socially responsible manner, with an eco-friendly, healthy and safe working environment approach, working toward continual improvement in the performance level."Our continual thirst to become steward in all spheres has led us to this reputed platform where we stand today," says Prashant Bangur, Executive Joint President of Shree Cement.The company has a 10-fold approach to ensure sustainability in all operations:Creativity and innovationShree Cement encourages its employees to think ‘Out of Box’, its "Jo Soche Wo Pave" scheme encouraged employees to provide innovative ideas and suggestions which are rewarded and communicated to spread the culture of innovative thinking."We believe that success comes through failure. Allowing failures encourage creative thinking and develop the attitude of creativity, risk taking and ultimately high performance," says Prashant Bangur.Employee creative ideas and innovations:

    • Developed synthetic gypsum to replace mineral gypsum for the first time in India.
    • Set a world record of commissioning a brown field clinkerization unit in a record time of 330 days.
    • Set a world record of commissioning a 46 MW of Waste Heat Recovery Based Green Power Plant in 17 months against the industry standard of 24 months.
    • Air lifted coal and raw mill from Germany to reduce the project execution time.
    • Installed the second largest waste heat recovery system in the world.

    Resource and Energy ConservationA holistic view of Sustainability and care for the future generation through:

    • Conserving resources to ensure its availability for the future generation
    • Reducing emissions, cleaning environment and combating climate change

    As an attempt to conserve fossil fuel, Shree Cement pioneered the use of petcoke as a replacement of fossil coal for the first time in India. Pet-coke has the properties of high sulphur, low volatile matter and harder grinding. Use of pet-coke came along with lots of constraints such as kiln jamming, low production and product quality but it also came as an opportunity to save precious fossil fuels. The company carried out extensive R&D and succeeded in pioneering its 100 per cent usage both in cement and power.Another initiative was to install India’s largest Air Cooled Condenser in its 2 X 150 MW power plant to replace the conventional water-cooled condensers, that ensured a current savings of 1 million KL water every year.One of the first process and cement manufacturing company in the world to obtain BS-EN 16001 Energy Management Certification, Shree Cement maintains one of lowest specific energy consumption for manufacturing its products.Environment FriendlinessThe company follows the philosophy of a Low Carbon Economy and work while following the maxim of clean and green is profitable. "They are members of various climate change initiatives like Cement Sustainability Initiative under the auspices of World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD)- Switzerland, GRI, TERI-BCSD etc.Waste UtilizationShree Cement began optimal use of fly ash in the cement manufacturing process in order to address the issues of fly ash disposal of power plants, while providing affordable cement to consumers and making planet better place. Use in cement makes the fly ash value added product thereby conserving limestone and fuels. The practice of using fly ash upto 35 per cent (which is maximum limit allowed by law), resulted in Shree Cement becoming the first cement manufacturing company in India to obtain CDM benefits for the same beginning July 2000.Similarly, the disposal of lead zinc slag was a serious problem for the zinc smelters. "However, our zeal to be opportunistic manufacturer provided us the threshold to utilise lead zinc slag, a waste of other industry thereby making us capable for laterite replacement from our operation. It also marked our "industrial ecologist" instinct. Besides, we have also demonstrated the use of agro-waste as a fuel replacement which is under validation for obtaining CDM benefits," says Prashant Bangur.The policy of Zero Disposals on LandMaintaining the lowest cost of production through:

    • Continual benchmarking with best achievements within Shree Cement and outside
    • Culture of challenging the established norms to find scope for further improvement
    • Focus on use of alternate raw material and fuels.

    Empowering PeopleThe company empowers people by providing them with challenging roles, higher responsibilities, multi-skill jobs, faster career growth and healthy working practices; and encourage the youth.Engaging Local CommunityThe company promotes maximum employment from local community, in order to generate sustainable livelihood by assisting local community to engage in various livelihood creation activities. To ensure total prosperity in the community, it actively engages in initiatives focusing on infrastructure and water harvesting structure development, healthcare and women empowerment programs, educational awareness programs and plantation activities.Embracing New Technology"Our continuous focus is on technologies for enabling faster decisions through increasing speed and accuracy and releasing time which can be put to other productive uses," says Bangur. It is one of the first cement companies to implement ‘Operator Independent Truck Dispatch System’ at mines for automated truck dispatch. It also introduced remote surveillance system to track progress of projects on real time basis from office.Health and SafetyThe company’s facilities are certified to the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard. Committed to achieving its goal of becoming ‘Zero Accident Work Place’, Personal Protective Equipment is provided to all workers on the shop floor and their use is strictly enforced.Transparency and GovernanceThe company maintains an open door policy of inviting competitors and outsiders to visit its plants to interchange ideas. "We have highly analytical annual report covering detailed financial and non financial information. We are the first cement company to issue Corporate Sustainability Report based upon GRI guidelines," says Prashant Bangur.Successful implementation of some of the projects at SCL:-Thermal power plants have traditionally used Water Cooled Condenser (WCC) systems. Bearing in mind the location of our operations in one of India’s most water scarce regions, we operationalized the switch from a Water Cooled Condenser to Air Cooled Condenser system. Retrofitting of the old system to convert it to ACC was a challenging task requiring considerable skill; the retrofitting task was completed and the ACC was commissioned without any alignment problems.Implementation of air cooled condensers at its power plant in Beawar has enabled reduced water consumption by about 70 per cent.Waste heat utilization of Preheater & clinker coolerTwo major sources of heat rejection In a cement plant are pre-heater and clinker cooler hot gases. Waste heat recovery system installation in these two sources not only generates electricity also saves water for cooling down the gases. "Our earlier experience with the waste heat boiler in unit-I gave a strong background for installation of waste heat recovery system in other units with improved systems to generate electricity as well as to save the water used to cool down the gases," says Bangur. This has reduced water consumption by about 85 per cent in the power plant and 50 per cent in clinker production.

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    Concrete

    Cement Makers Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Growth

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    World Environment Day spotlight on innovation and circularity

    On World Environment Day, the Indian cement industry reiterated its commitment to supporting India’s climate ambitions through sustainable manufacturing, resource efficiency and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

    The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) said the sector remains aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitments and is accelerating efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while supporting the country’s infrastructure and development agenda.

    Parth Jindal, President, CMA and Managing Director, JSW Cement, said the industry is increasingly adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of alternative fuels and raw materials. He also highlighted the growing importance of circular economy practices, where industrial by-products and waste streams from one sector are utilised as resources in another.

    “The Indian Cement Industry is aligned to the Government’s commitments on carbon mitigation and is accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy practices while actively exploring the potential of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical pathway for deep decarbonisation,” said Jindal.

    He added that coprocessing industrial waste and by-products helps conserve natural resources, reduce disposal requirements and lower the environmental footprint across multiple sectors.

    According to Jindal, sustainability is no longer limited to manufacturing processes but is increasingly influencing investment decisions, innovation strategies and long-term growth plans within the industry.

    Echoing similar views, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA and Managing Director, JK Cement, said sustainable development extends beyond emissions reduction and must also focus on responsible resource utilisation and waste minimisation.

    “Sustainability in the built environment cannot be measured by emissions alone. It is equally about how efficiently we use resources, how effectively we minimise waste and how responsibly we create the infrastructure that will serve future generations,” said Singhania.

    He noted that the cement industry is advancing its sustainability agenda through greater resource efficiency, increased circularity, technological innovation and continuous improvements in manufacturing practices. As a key contributor to India’s infrastructure development, the sector has a critical role to play in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

    On the occasion of World Environment Day, industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting India’s climate goals while delivering the materials required for resilient, durable and sustainable infrastructure.

     

    Continue Reading

    Concrete

    Building a Greener Future Together

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    Environmental sustainability requires immediate action, not just long-term commitments and discussions. Recycling, circular economy practices, and technology-driven waste management can help industries reduce environmental impact while supporting sustainable growth.

    Author: Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO, Fornnax Technology

    World Environment Day serves as an important reminder that environmental sustainability can no longer remain confined to discussions, reports, or long-term commitments. The environmental challenges facing the world today demand immediate, measurable, and collective action. Across industries and communities, waste generation continues to outpace our ability to process it responsibly, placing increasing pressure on ecosystems, natural resources, public health, and the well-being of future generations.

    One of the most significant shifts required today is a change in how society perceives waste. Rather than being viewed as a material to be discarded, waste must be recognised as a valuable resource that can contribute to both economic growth and environmental protection when managed through the right technologies and systems. This mindset forms the foundation of the circular economy model that countries across the world are increasingly adopting to reduce landfill dependence, recover valuable materials, and create more sustainable industrial ecosystems.

    India has made meaningful progress in strengthening awareness around sustainability, recycling, and environmental responsibility over the past decade. Significant efforts are being made to formalise the recycling sector through improved infrastructure, technology adoption, policy implementation, and broader stakeholder participation. These developments are creating a stronger foundation for responsible waste management and resource recovery across the country.

    However, achieving long-term environmental impact requires collaboration from all stakeholders. Industries, policymakers, technology providers, and communities must work together with greater accountability to strengthen recycling ecosystems, encourage responsible waste management practices, and create sustainable outcomes through consistent execution rather than temporary interventions.

    As someone closely associated with the recycling industry, I firmly believe that technology will play a decisive role in addressing future environmental challenges. Advanced recycling systems have the potential to recover valuable resources, reduce pollution, minimise landfill burdens, and conserve energy, creating a more sustainable future for generations to come. This belief is deeply reflected in Fornnax’s motto, “Committed to Create a Green Future,” which embodies our commitment to building long-term environmental value through innovation and responsible action.

    At the same time, technology alone cannot deliver meaningful change. Real progress requires intent, awareness, participation, and a shared sense of responsibility. Sustainable development can only be achieved when innovation is supported by collective action and a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship.

    On this World Environment Day, let us move beyond conversations and take meaningful steps towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable planet. By embracing innovation, strengthening recycling ecosystems, and acting responsibly today, we can create lasting environmental impact and secure a better future for generations to come.

    Continue Reading

    Concrete

    Dalmia Bharat Acquires Jaiprakash Associates Cement Assets for ₹2,850 Crore

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    Dalmia Cement executed a Business Transfer Agreement with Jaiprakash Associates and Adani Infra, to acquire 5.2 MnTPA of cement capacity across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

    Dalmia Cement (Bharat) announced on May 22, 2026 that it had signed a Business Transfer Agreement with Jaiprakash Associates Limited and Adani Infra (India) Limited for the acquisition of cement plants located at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and Churk, Chunar and Sadwa in Uttar Pradesh. The deal was struck at an enterprise value of ₹2,850 crore and is expected to close within two weeks of execution.

    The acquired assets from Jaiprakash Associates include 5.2 MnTPA of cement capacity and 3.3 MnTPA of clinker capacity. The package also covers 99 MW of thermal power capacity and railway sidings at Rewa, Chunar, and a common siding at Churk. This infrastructure gives the acquisition immediate operational utility beyond just production tonnage.

    The transaction has a long backstory. Dalmia Cement had originally entered into a framework agreement with Jaiprakash Associates in December 2022, covering the sale of these business assets along with a long-term clinker supply arrangement. However, before the deal could be completed, Jaiprakash Associates was admitted to insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The earlier agreements could not be consummated as a result.

    In an official statement, Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director & CEO, Dalmia Bharat, said, “I am very excited about addition of these assets in our portfolio. This serves as a great strategic fit for Dalmia. It helps us move forward in our journey to be a pan India player and provide a strong head start to serve the high potential markets in Central region. I am optimistic that the expansion potential of these assets along with close proximity with Dalmia’s captive mines will help us create a capacity hub for the future”.

    Following the approval of Adani Group’s resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates under the IBC framework, Dalmia approached the new management to revive discussions. The fresh Business Transfer Agreement was executed to settle all pending disputes, legal proceedings, and arbitration matters arising from the original framework agreement with Jaiprakash Associates.

    Expanding market reach

    Dalmia added, “Our familiarity with these assets under the earlier tolling arrangement gives us a deep understanding of the facilities and helps us establish strong connect with channel partners and vendors. We believe that this will help us in faster ramp up of capacities and quicker inroads into the market. As we look forward, I am very confident that we will be able to leverage the strengths of Dalmia to operate these assets in a manner where we can maximise value creation for all our stakeholders.”

    With the addition of these plants, Dalmia Bharat’s total installed cement capacity will rise to 54.7 MnTPA upon consummation. The company has further expansion projects underway at Belgaum, Pune, and Kadapa, which are expected to take overall capacity to 66.7 MnTPA by Q2 to Q3 FY28.

    The Central India location of the Jaiprakash Associates plants gives Dalmia Bharat faster access to markets in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh than a greenfield build would have allowed. The company also cited debottlenecking and brownfield expansion as near-term opportunities at the acquired sites. Dalmia Bharat said the assets were expected to contribute positively to EBITDA and overall returns, given the pricing environment in the region and the company’s cost structure.

    Continue Reading

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