Concrete

Currently, we are not using fly ash in the cement and concrete blend due to regulatory issues

Published

12 years ago

July 31, 2014

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Sudhir Hoshing, CEO-Roads, Reliance Infrastructure Though the regulatory systems are yet to evolve and embrace the new construction material, fly ash has already proved its worth in several large-scale construction projects all over the world. Fly ash has been used in tall building structures like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. Eurotunnel, the second largest rail tunnel had fly ash mixed in the concrete. In India it has been used in Bhakhra Dam, Rihand Dam, Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant, private builders like Hiranandani Developers, DLF have been using fly ash in residential buildings. ICR interacts with Sudhir Hoshing, CEO-Roads, Reliance Infrastructure, to gauge how the trend is catching up in India.

What are the benefits of blending fly ash in cement?
Fly ash, being a by-product of coal combustion, offers environmental advantages by diverting the material from the waste stream, reducing the energy investment in processing virgin materials, conserving virgin materials, and by allaying pollution.

It also improves the performance and quality of concrete as it:

Affects the plastic properties of concrete by improving workability, reducing water demand, reducing segregation and bleeding, and by lowering heat of hydration.
Fly ash increases strength, reduces permeability, reduces corrosion of reinforcing steel, increases sulphate resistance, and reduces alkali-aggregate reaction.
Fly ash reaches its maximum strength more slowly than concrete made with only Portland cement.
Reduces requirement of cement for same strength of concrete thus making the mix economical.
No special technique is needed to use fly ash blended concrete. It is to be used as per standard established method.

Does blending vary, based on the type of fly ash or application?
Based on the type of coal used, two different types of fly ashes are produced. Anthracite and bituminous coal produces fly ash classified as Class F. Class C fly ash is produced by burning lignite or sub-bituminous coal. For sulfate environments, only Class F fly ash will be permitted and under no circumstances will Class C fly ash be used.

Class F fly ash will typically require an air entraining agent to be added. Class C fly ash will not.

How is the availability of good quality fly ash in the country?
In India fly ash is being used to produce fly ash based PPC. Because in India the power plants basically use lignite and sub-bituminous coal, the Class F fly ash is relatively easy to obtain.

Do you use fly ash in your cement/concrete blends? To what extent?
Currently, we are not using fly ash in cement/concrete blends due to regulatory issues. However, fly ash is permitted for use in embankments, earthwork, etc. Generally, 15 to 28 per cent fly ash is used in such applications.

No special technique is needed to use fly ash blended concrete.

Concrete

NCB Signs MoU With Cement Manufacturer To Boost Construction Skills

Partnership to deliver nationwide training and certification

Published

3 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

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The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a leading cement manufacturer to strengthen skill development and capacity building in the construction sector. The agreement was formalised at NCB premises in Ballabgarh and was signed by the Director General of NCB, Dr L. P. Singh, and the head of technical services at UltraTech Cement Limited, Er Rahul Goel. The collaboration seeks to bring institutional resources and industry expertise into a structured national training effort.

The partnership will deliver structured training and certification programmes across the country aimed at enhancing the capabilities of civil engineers, ready?mix concrete (RMC) professionals, contractors, construction workers and masons. Programme curricula will cover material quality testing, concrete mix proportioning, durability assessment and sustainable construction practices to support improved construction outcomes. Emphasis is to be placed on standardised assessment and certification to raise practice levels across diverse construction roles.

Practical learning elements will include workshops, site demonstrations, technical seminars and exposure visits to plants and RMC facilities to strengthen applied skills and on?site decision making. The Director General indicated confidence that a large number of professionals and workers would be trained over the next three to five years under the initiative. The partnership is designed to complement flagship government schemes such as the Skill India Mission and to align training outputs with national infrastructure priorities.

By combining the council’s technical mandate with industry experience, the initiative aims to develop a more skilled and quality?conscious workforce capable of meeting rising demand in infrastructure and housing. NCB will continue to coordinate programme delivery and quality assurance while industry partners provide practical exposure and technical inputs. The collaboration is expected to support long?term capacity building and more sustainable construction practices nationwide.

Concrete

JSW Cement Commissions Nagaur Plant, Enters North India

New Rajasthan unit boosts capacity to 24.1 MTPA and expands reach

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

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JSW Cement has strengthened its national presence by commencing production at its greenfield integrated cement plant in Nagaur, Rajasthan, marking its entry into the north Indian market.

With this commissioning, the company’s installed grinding capacity has increased to 24.1 MTPA, while total clinker capacity, including its joint venture operations, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

The Nagaur facility comprises a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and a 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit, with an additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity currently under development. Strategically located, the plant is positioned to serve high-growth markets across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR.

The project has been funded through a mix of equity and long-term debt, with Rs 800 crore allocated from IPO proceeds towards part-financing the unit.

Parth Jindal, Managing Director, JSW Cement, stated that the commissioning marks a key milestone in the company’s ambition to become a pan-India player. He added that the project was completed within 21 months and positions the company to achieve its targeted capacity of 41.85 MTPA by FY29.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, highlighted that the expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to tap into rapidly growing northern markets driven by infrastructure development. He noted that the company remains focused on delivering high-quality, eco-friendly cement solutions while progressing towards its long-term capacity goal of 60 MTPA.

The Nagaur plant has been designed with sustainability features, including co-processing of alternative fuels and a 7 km overland belt conveyor for limestone transport to reduce road emissions. The facility will also incorporate a 16 MW Waste Heat Recovery System to improve energy efficiency and lower its carbon footprint.

JSW Cement, part of the JSW Group, operates across the building materials value chain and currently has eight plants across India, along with a clinker unit in the UAE through its joint venture.

Concrete

Cement Prices Likely To Rise As Petcoke Costs Increase

Nuvama warns input costs may lift prices by early April 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2026

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A report by Nuvama Wealth Management said cement prices in India could rise by the end of March or early April 2026 as producers face higher input costs linked to crude oil. The report identified rising petroleum coke and packaging material costs as principal drivers of upward pressure on production expenses. Petroleum coke, a fuel used in cement manufacturing, rose by about 13 per tonne (t) in US dollar terms in February 2026, a change that could be passed on to buyers. Producers may adjust prices later in the quarter to protect margins.

Cement demand remained stable during February and March 2026, supported by ongoing construction and infrastructure activity, and earlier price increases on non-trade sales were largely reversed by the end of February. Retail prices remained broadly steady through March in most regions. The persistence of demand may allow firms to manage price adjustments rather than apply uniform increases. Market responses will vary by region and logistical cost pressures.

Nuvama said that stock performance of cement companies will likely be influenced by the path of cement prices and petroleum coke costs in the coming weeks. Rising input costs including crude linked fuels and packaging may squeeze profit margins and prompt firms to monitor pricing and demand closely. The balance between input inflation and end demand will determine whether companies absorb costs or transfer them to customers. Analysts will watch forthcoming quarterly results for evidence of margin pressure or successful cost pass through.

Government capital expenditure showed moderation, with overall capex declining 24 per cent year-on-year to around Rs 2 trillion (Rs 2 tn) in January 2026 and cumulative capex from April 2025 to January 2026 at about Rs 20 trillion (Rs 20 tn), up eight per cent year-on-year. The report noted that real estate launches fell 44 per cent year-on-year in January 2026, and overall healthy demand could still be offset by rising crude linked input costs that may push cement prices higher by late March or early April 2026.