Economy & Market

Green supply chain: Time to act now

Published

10 years ago

July 4, 2016

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The Indian cement industry, which can trace its beginnings back to 1914, has come a long way since then. India is the second largest market globally ~390 mt annual capacity (approximately 8 per cent of world capacity). Fueled by strong economic growth, rising population and rapid urbanisation, the construction sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in India today.

Second only to the agricultural sector, the cement industry currently employs 33 million individuals, with an incremental workforce requirement of about four million people per year. The productivity parameters are now nearing quality improvements with the use of alternate fuels and raw materials, which have not only ensured improvements in productivity but have also been able to reduce production costs. Effective environment management continues to play a key role in the efforts of the cement industry to operate in a sustainable manner.

Logistics planning involves efficient integration of suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses and stores and encompasses the firm’s activities from the strategic level through the tactical to the operational level. However, it has also been observed to playing a vital role in making the finished product conform to customer requirements. The effective planning and management of a logistics and supply chain is a challenge for most countries. Like in the case of the Nigerian cement industry, the supply chain cannot rely on the rail system due to its obsoleteness, therefore they are purely based on roads (i.e. use of trucks), which contributes to the increase in pollution levels. To bring the railways back into operation, new infrastructural developments would have to be put in place, which can lead to cheaper, less polluting and more efficient system for an effective supply chain process in Nigeria. This country is a prime example of steady economic growth, facing the risk of losing such a position if such prime economic indicators, as an efficient railway system continue to develop at a snail’s pace. The cement industry in India also faces challenges in terms of developing its logistics system. There is a lack of IT implementation, which at present is developing at a slow pace due to the implied additional costs. On the other hand, India has the largest railway network in Asia, which should have been the preferred means for bulk transport instead of using the country’s road systems for a more effective usage of the present infrastructure. However, since the rail network, rolling stock availability and last mile connectivity are major bottlenecks, road transportation on account of better road infrastructure, varied fleet mix and service requirements has become the preferred mode of transportation for the cement industry.

Going green is not a one-time proposal, but a continuous effort to recognise ways to diminish a company’s environmental impact and improve business standards. Considering the obstacles faced by the cement industry in the country, companies should aim at designing a supply chain which would ensure usage of the same amount of fuel for more products transported, covering more distance. This would enable the resulting savings to be passed on to the customer as well. Also, adequate monitoring and acquiring data is a fundamental way of making a supply chain more effective and safer for all stakeholders involved. Simple technologies can go a long way in achieving this goal such as installation of Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in all vehicles.

RFID and GPS together can ensure better visibility of trucks with complete transparency in the process, by tracking the historical data of trucks and time taken from Gate In and Gate Out of the plant. These modifications can help reduce waiting time for trucks, which is one of the main challenges of time efficiency and it also helps reduce hazards such as high accident rate on the road, product wastage and traffic congestion on the highways.

In the next decade, the Indian economy will have grown multifold and consumers will become much more heterogeneous, presenting organisations with a unique set of opportunities and challenges. The supply chain will be impacted by various evolving macro-factors such as mega cities, increased consumer segments, increased global trade and more importantly, affordable technologies. Therefore there is a need for a green supply chain system which can reduce the ecological impact of industrial activity without sacrificing quality, cost, reliability, performance or energy utilisation efficiency. It involves a paradigm shift from an end-of-pipe control aimed at simply meeting environmental regulations to adopting measures which succeed in not only mini-mising ecological damage, but also leading to overall economic profit.

Author: Tushar Dave, Sr Vice President, Central Logistics, ACC Limited

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

2 days ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

3 days ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.