Economy & Market

Will PPPs in affordable housing succeed?

Published

8 years ago

December 30, 2017

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Urbanisation is central to a country’s economy – and in India, the urbanisation rate corresponds to 60 per cent of the country’s GDP. For smoother transformation of a developing nation like India, the need of the hour is to manage the process of urbanisation. The rapid pace of urbanisation has given rise to many grave issues – one of them being housing shortage.
Urban land in India, constituting 3.1 per cent of the country’s land area, presents a complex situation where high urban densities co-exist with sub-optimal utilisation (India Habitat Report, 2016). The inward migration of massive chunks of population from rural areas and peri-urban areas to urban areas in search of livelihood and better living conditions is continually exacerbating the shortage of housing in our cities.
As a result, a new socio-economic category known as the ‘urban poor’ has emerged. The Center and States have taken up the challenge of providing ‘Housing for All’ in India’s cities and towns, and several housing policies and missions have been launched to provide shelter to this new category of citizens. Building bye laws and building codes have been modified, loan disbursals have been eased, and interest subsidies have been provided in the banking financial system to reach out to this class of the population.
Though the recent census data highlights that the housing shortage rate in India’s urban areas declined from 1.63 million to 0.39 million in 2011; nevertheless, the larger problem persists. In India, private sector players, which include developers and housing finance companies, tended to primarily target housing for the HIG (higher income group), resulting in sustained supply and competition in this segment.
While the government is, on the other hand, focused on providing shelter to the poor and EWS (economically weaker sections), the results of these efforts have been largely insufficient. Also, the housing requirements of the LIG (lower income groups) are being grossly neglected, and there is a serious dearth of affordable housing to cater to this segment of society. By combining the strengths of private players with those of the public sector, the challenges of providing affordable housing can be overcome. Superior outcomes are achievable via case-specific PPP structures with appropriate allocation of risks and value creation.Mammoth housing shortage
Thanks to incessant demand, the housing sector in India is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. It is one of the biggest employers, and has direct or indirect impacts on all sectors of the economy. In fact, the real estate industry is the third-largest contributor to the Indian economy, and the housing sector contributes 85 per cent of the total real estate activity. As per JLL estimates, the urban housing shortage till 2022 stands at 15.97 million units. By government estimates, the shortage in 2012 stood at 18.78 million units, of which, 96.5 per cent (estimated by the end of 2017) is in the LIG and EWS combined.
A report by the Technical Group on Housing Shortage (TG-12) mentions that states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have higher housing shortage, accounting for to 7.61 million units. It is correctly inferred that though there is significant shortage of LIG and EWS category housing (17.96 million units in 2012), the supply in urban areas – which largely caters to MIG and HIG category buyers – represents a significant inventory overhang and is not selling well at all.
The government’s mission of ‘Housing for All by 2022′ seeks to provide a credible and viable answer to this pressing question, and focuses on single-window clearances, construction of 84,460 affordable houses in 5 states of India, and various other efforts to create low-cost housing. These initiatives have definitely had a positive impact on the housing sector. However, not much of a dent in the overall affordable housing shortage has so far been made. According to a report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA), urban housing stock has increased from 52.06 million to 78.48 million units in the past decade. Another review observes that the skyrocketing prices of housing stock and congestion of stock in limited areas have contributed significantly to keeping a majority of the urban poor homeless.
The Union Budget of India 2017-2018 has led impetus to affordable housing and the infrastructure segment, and the announced tax benefits and proposed changes in the long-term capital gains tax will boost players’ confidence in these projects. This is an important step to attracting private players to this segment and thereby improving the supply of low-cost houses in India. Drawing from global cues
The challenge of providing affordable or inclusive housing exists all across the world. A distinct ‘housing trap’ exists as even rental housing is becoming increasingly expensive, with house ownership becoming a distant dream, insufficient social housing creation and the number of wait-listed applications growing every year in many countries.
The housing crisis is certainly escalating. To resolve it, many developed countries have become proactive with subsidies and incentives for providing housing to the less economically privileged segment:
In Singapore, 82 per cent of the population resides in social housing. The country’s housing policy emphasises the ownership rather than the rental model, and provides consummate subsidies to first-time house buyers. Another notable practice can be observed in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, where older housing stock becomes available to low income households by redeveloping it in appropriate locations under the concept of inclusive planning. In Philippines, a penalty is imposed if land is kept idle for too long instead of making it available for housing development.
In Spain, FSI incentives have enabled developers to sell affordable units at a 1/3rd price compared to the prevailing market rates. PPP policy
To attract private developers to affordable housing, the Indian government recently drafted a new policy on ‘Public Private Partnerships for Affordable Housing’ in an attempt to overcome the challenges and maximise financial gains by tapping the potential of such projects. The new policy has devised various models of PPP to achieve these gains and moderate associated risks.
The models are prepared for two cases – the first being for instances where the Government leases the land, and the second for when a private developer has to identify the land. The second case is further bifurcated into two scenarios. In the first scenario, development is carried out in partnership (the Analytic Hierarchy Process or AHP system) and in the second, when development is carried out on the basis of the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). The policy also talks about several other features like cross subsidy, fast approvals, etc. If both the market risks and sales are high, this policy will ensure a successful PPP model in the affordable housing segment.Success stories
Affordable housing refers to housing units that the section of society whose income is below the median household income can afford. While the term ‘Affordable Housing’ has been bandied about extensively and this segment is inherently very promising, the multiple associated concerns have in the past caused most developers to divest in this sector.
The biggest challenge in this sector is implementation against a backdrop of a very unclear policy framework. Other constraints are the lack of supply of developable land at reasonable prices, higher construction costs, unsupportive development control norms – and, not least of all, lack of easy access to home finance for the low income groups.
Though the Government is working hard towards addressing these issues by taking strategic steps, the policy framework must be strengthened further to stimulate growth and deliver sufficient relief to LIG home buyers. Implementation must be simplified and clarified if more investors and developers are to be attracted to this sector. At the end of the day, affordable housing provides a plethora of opportunities to all stakeholders, and the private sector can bridge the deficit by introducing innovative construction practices which can reduce costs and improve project financing, marketing and sales.
Even before the ‘PPP Policy on Affordable Housing’ was announced, many Indian states had policies which attempted to effectively implement affordable housing schemes. In the 2001-2006 policy period, states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh made first attempts to formulate township policies which included provisions for affordable housing, as well.
Since then, there have been many changes and reforms in these policies. For instance, Andhra Pradesh’s latest affordable housing policy suggests four different models in which private developers are encouraged via fast-tracked clearances and approvals, FSI incentives, timely payments and the flexibility for developers to determine the sale price of the affordable houses (with approval from the authority). It also suggests a rental housing model wherein rent would be fixed by the Government.
Benefits such as exemptions in service tax, trade license fees, stamp duty etc. are provided for affordable rental housing units. Andhra Pradesh’s development control regulations also include an allocation of 10 per cent of total built-up area for LIG and EWS housing in all townships, group housing and gated community projects.
Alternately, the regulations call for allocation of proportionate land to the Government, to be used for public welfare in the form of housing or civic infrastructure, urban open spaces, etc.
In Maharashtra, a special Township Policy was formulated in 2004 to attract private players to cater to the demand for LIG and MIG housing. However, this resulted in only 17 projects in 11 years (2004-2015). After the state took a serious look at this shortfall in implementation, amendments were proposed in the policy. The new ‘Housing Policy and Affordable Housing Plan’ unveiled in 2015 targets 50,000-100,000 affordable houses to be constructed every township, each township must have an area of 40 hectares, and there can be as much as 100 per cent of permissible FSI if the area has a sufficient potential and can potentially achieve realistic targets.
Also, ‘in-situ’ slum redevelopment projects with private participation in the state provided 1,592 dwelling units for eligible slum dwellers by leveraging the locked potential of public land under slums and including them as formal urban settlements. The project was executed in eight packages consisting of eight locations in Ahmedabad city (Gujarat) and provided 1,592 dwelling units of about 27 sq. carpet area with basic civic infrastructure like water supply, sewerage system, internal road connectivity with street lights, etc. 83 eligible slum dwellers owning commercial spaces were each allotted shops of 15 sq m carpet area.
This project’s USP was that additional FSI and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) were generated and awarded to the private partner, which made the slum redevelopment project financially viable. The private partner provided the eligible slum dwellers rental transit accommodation for the entire construction period at Rs 6,000 per month.Take away
The success of affordable housing initiatives depends on the proactive involvement of various stakeholders, including private sector players, operating with a clear roadmap of roles and responsibilities. Innovative PPP models must be explored to yield win-win scenarios for all involved partners and encourage private developers to participate more in this competitive market.
As per the PPP policy, both ownership and rental models backed by an institutional structure should result in the right kind of housing supply to reach its designated end users effectively. States should have their own township policies earmarking dedicated zones for affordable housing. Incentives in the form of land lease, FSI, reduction in stamp duty and exemption from other associated taxes will significantly reduce project costs.
With the deployment of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act [RERA] in 2016, which also focuses on timely completion of projects and adoption of innovative technologies like prefab and pre-cast housing, there is a hope for effectively covering the demand/supply gap. Unlocking older housing stock by redeveloping dilapidated structures and adding them to the overall supply of affordable housing will help in a big way. If the PPP policy is able to regularise, monitor and encompass the all-important principles of inclusiveness, equity, environmental sustainability and transparency, they will certainly succeed.Authors: – The article is authored by A Shankar, National Director and Head of Operations – Strategic Consulting, JLL India.

Concrete

PROMECON introduces infrared-based tertiary air measurement system for cement kilns

Published

11 hours ago

May 20, 2026

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The new solution promisescontinuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations.

PROMECON GmbH has launched the McON IR Compact, an infrared-based measuring system designed to deliver continuous, real-time tertiary air flow measurement in cement plant operations. The system addresses the longstanding process control challenge of accurate tertiary air monitoring under extreme kiln conditions. It uses patented infrared time-of-flight measurement technology that operates without calibration or maintenance intervention.

Precise tertiary air measurement is a critical requirement for stable rotary kiln operation. The McON IR Compact is engineered to function reliably at temperatures up to 1,200°C and in the presence of abrasive clinker dust. Its vector-based digital measurement architecture ensures that readings remain unaffected by swirl, dust deposits or drift. Due to these conditions conventional measurement systems in pyroprocess environments are often compromised.

The system is fully non-intrusive and requires no K-factors, recalibration or periodic readjustment, enabling years of uninterrupted operation. This design directly supports plant availability and reduces the maintenance overhead typically associated with process instrumentation in high-temperature zones.

PROMECON has deployed the McON IR Compact at multiple cement facilities, including Warta Cement in Poland. Plant operators report that the system has aided in identifying blockages, optimising purging cycles for gas burners, and supplying accurate flow data for AI-based process optimisation programmes. The practical outcomes include more stable kiln operation, improved process control, and earlier detection of process disturbances.

On the energy side, real-time tertiary air data enables reduction in induced draft fan load and helps flatten process oscillations across the pyroprocess. This translates to lower fuel and energy consumption, fewer unplanned shutdowns, and a measurable reduction in NOx peaks. This directly reflects on the downstream cost implications for plants operating SCR or SNCR systems for emissions compliance.

Concrete

Filtration Technology is Critical for Efficient Logistics

Published

5 days ago

May 15, 2026

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Niranjan Kirloskar, MD, Fleetguard Filters, makes the case that filtration technology, which has been long treated as a routine consumable, is in fact a strategic performance enabler across every stage of cement production and logistics.

India’s cement industry forms the core for infrastructure growth of the country. With an expected compound annual growth rate of six to eight per cent, India has secured its position as the second-largest cement producer globally. This growth is a result of the increasing demand across, resulting in capacity expansion. Consequently, cement manufacturers are now also focusing on running the factories as efficiently as possible to stay competitive and profitable.
While a large portion of focus still remains on production technologies and capacity utilisation, the hidden factor in profitability is the efficiency of cement logistics. The logistics alone account for nearly 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the total cost of cement, making efficiency in this segment a key lever for profitability and reliability.
In the midst of this complex and high-intensity ecosystem, filtration often remains one of the most underappreciated yet essential enablers of performance.

A demanding operational landscape
Cement production and logistics inherently operate in some of the harshest industrial environments. With processes such as quarrying, crushing, grinding, clinker production, and bulk material handling expose the machinery to constant high temperatures, heavy loads, and dust, often the silent destructive force for engines.
The ecosystem is abrasive, and often one with a high contamination index. These challenging conditions demand equipment such as the excavators, crushers, compressors, and transport vehicles to perform and perform efficiently. The continuous exposure to contamination across every aspect like air, fuel, lubrication, and even hydraulic systems causes long-term damage. Studies have also shown that 70 to 80 per cent of hydraulic system failures are directly linked to contamination, while primary cause of engine wear is inadequate air filtration.
For engines as heavy as these, even a minor contaminant has a cascading effect; reducing efficiency, performance and culminating to unplanned downtime. Particles as small as 5 to 10 microns, far smaller than a human hair (~70 microns), can cause significant damage to critical engine components. In an industry where margins are closely linked to operational efficiency, such disruptions can significantly affect both cost structures and delivery timelines.

Dust management: A persistent challenge
Dust is a natural by-product in cement operations. From drilling and blasting in the quarries to packing in plants, this fine particulate matter does occupy a large space in operations. Dust concentration levels in quarry and crushing zones often create extremely high particulate exposure for equipment. These fine particles, when enter the engines and critical systems, accelerates the wear and tear of the component, affecting directly the operational efficiency. Over time every block fall; engine performance declines, fuel consumption rises, and maintenance cycles shorten. In this case, effective air filtration is the natural first line of defence. Advanced filtration systems are designed to capture high volumes of particulate matter while maintaining consistent airflow, ensuring that engines and equipment operate under optimal conditions.
In high-dust applications, as in cement production, even the filtration systems are expected to sustain performance over extended periods without the need of frequent replacement. This becomes crucial in remote quarry locations where access to frequent maintenance may be limited.

Fluid cleanliness and system integrity
Beyond air filtration, fluid systems also play a crucial role for equipment reliability in cement operations. Fuel systems are required to remain free from contaminants for efficient working of combustion and injection protection. Additionally, lubrication systems also need to maintain the oil purity to reduce friction and prevent any premature wear of moving parts. The hydraulic systems, which are key to several heavy equipment operations, are especially sensitive to contamination.
If fine particles or water enters these systems, it can lead to reduced efficiency, erratic performance, and eventual failure of the system. Modern filtration systems are designed with high-efficiency media capable of removing extremely fine contaminants, with advanced fuel and oil filtration solutions filtering particles as small as two to five microns. Multi-stage filtration systems further ensure that fluid performance is maintained even under challenging operating conditions.
Another critical aspect of fuel systems is water separation. Removing moisture helps prevent corrosion, improves combustion efficiency and enhances overall engine reliability. Modern water separation technologies can achieve over 95 per cent efficiency in removing water from fuel systems.

Ensuring reliability across the value chain
Filtration plays a critical role across every stage of cement logistics:
• Quarry operations: Equipment operates in highly abrasive environments, requiring strong protection against dust ingress and hydraulic contamination.
• Processing units: Crushers, kilns, and grinding mills depend on clean lubrication and cooling systems to sustain continuous operations.
• Material handling systems: Pneumatic and mechanical systems rely on clean air and fluid systems for efficiency and reliability.
• Transportation networks: Bulk carriers and trucks must maintain engine health and fuel efficiency to ensure timely deliveries.
Across these operations, filtration plays a vital role; as it supports consistent equipment performance while reducing the risk of unexpected failures.
Effective filtration solutions can reduce unscheduled equipment failures by 30 to 50 per cent across heavy-duty operations.

Uptime as a strategic imperative
In cement manufacturing, uptime is currency. Downtime not only delays the production, but it also greatly impacts the supply commitments and logistics planning. With the right filtration systems, contaminants are kept at bay from entering the
critical systems, and they also significantly extend the service intervals.
Optimised filtration can extend service intervals by 20 to 40 per cent, reducing maintenance frequency while maintaining consistent performance across demanding operating conditions. Filtration systems designed for heavy-duty applications sustain efficiency throughout their lifecycle, ensuring reliable protection with minimal interruptions. This leads to improved equipment availability, lower maintenance costs, and more predictable operations, with well-maintained systems capable of achieving uptime levels of over 90 to 95 per cent in challenging cement environments.

Supporting emission and sustainability goals
With the rising environmental awareness, the cement industry too is aligning with the stricter norms and sustainability targets. In this scenario, the operational efficiency is directly linked to emission control.

Air and fuel systems that are clean enable
much more efficient combustion. They also reduce emissions from both the stationary equipment and transport fleets. Similarly, with a well-maintained fluid cleanliness, emission systems function better. Poor combustion due to contamination can increase emissions by 5 to 10 per cent, making clean systems critical for compliance.
Additionally, efficient and longer lasting filtration systems significantly reduce any waste generation and contribute to increased sustainable maintenance practices. Extended-life filtration solutions can reduce filter disposal and maintenance waste by 15 to 20 per cent. Smart and efficient filtration in this case plays an important role in meeting the both regulatory and environmental objectives within the industry.

Advancements in filtration technology
Over the years, there has been a significant evolution in the filtration technology to meet the modern industrial applications.
Key developments include:
• High-efficiency filtration media capable of capturing very fine particles without restricting flow
• Compact and integrated designs that combine multiple filtration functions
• Extended service life solutions that reduce replacement frequency and maintenance downtime
• Application-specific engineering tailored to different stages of cement operations
Modern multi-layer filtration media can improve dust-holding capacity by up to two to three times compared to conventional systems, while maintaining consistent performance. These advancements have transformed filtration from a basic maintenance component into a critical performance system.

Adapting to diverse operating conditions
The cement industry of India operates across diverse geographies. Spanning across regions with arid regions with higher dust levels, to the coastal areas with higher humidity, challenges of each region pose different threats to the engines. Modern filtration systems are thus tailored to address these unique challenges of each region.
Indian operating environments often range from 0°C to over 50°C, with some of the highest dust loads globally in mining zones.
Additionally, filtration technology can also be customised to variations which then align the system design with factors like dust load, temperature, and equipment usage patterns. Equipment utilisation levels in India are typically higher than global averages, making robust filtration even more critical. This approach ensures optimal performance and durability across different operational contexts.

Impact on total cost of ownership
Filtration has a direct and measurable impact on the total cost of ownership of equipment.
Effective filtration leads to:
• Lower wear and tear on critical components
• Reduced maintenance and repair costs
• Improved fuel efficiency
• Extended equipment life
• Higher operational uptime
Effective filtration can extend engine life by 20 to 30 per cent and reduce overall maintenance costs by 15 to 25 per cent over the equipment lifecycle. These benefits collectively enhance productivity and reduce lifecycle costs. Conversely, inadequate filtration can result in frequent breakdowns, increased maintenance expenditure, and reduced asset utilisation.

Building a more efficient cement ecosystem
With the rising demand across various sectors, the cement industry is expected to expand at an unprecedented rate. This growth is forcing the production to move towards a more efficient and resilient system of operations. This requires attention not only to production technologies but also to the supporting systems that enable consistent performance. Filtration must be viewed as a strategic investment rather than a routine consumable. By ensuring the cleanliness of air and fluids across systems, it supports reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.

The road ahead
The future of cement logistics will be shaped by increasing mechanisation, digital monitoring, and stricter environmental standards. The industry is also witnessing a shift towards predictive maintenance and condition monitoring, where filtration performance is increasingly integrated with real-time equipment diagnostics.
In this evolving landscape, the role of filtration will become even more critical. As equipment becomes more advanced and operating conditions more demanding, the need for precise contamination control will continue to grow. From quarry to construction site, filtration technology underpins the performance of every critical system. It enables equipment to operate efficiently, reduces operational risks, and supports the industry’s broader goals of growth and sustainability. In many ways, it is the unseen force that keeps the cement ecosystem moving, quietly ensuring that every link in the value chain performs as expected.

About the author
Niranjan Kirloskar, Managing Director, Fleetguard Filters, is focused on driving innovation, operational excellence, and long-term business growth through strategic and people-centric leadership. With a strong foundation in ethics and forward-thinking decision-making, he champions a culture of collaboration, accountability, and technological advancement.

Concrete

Cement’s Next Fuel Shift

Published

6 days ago

May 15, 2026

admin

Jignesh Kindaria highlights how Thermal Substitution Rate (TSR) is emerging as a critical lever for cost savings, decarbonisation and competitive advantage in the cement industry.

India is simultaneously grappling with two crises: a mounting waste emergency and an urgent need to decarbonise its most carbon-intensive industries. The cement sector, the second-largest in the world and the backbone of the nation’s infrastructure ambitions, sits at the centre of both. It consumes enormous quantities of fossil fuel, and it has the technical capacity to consume something else entirely: the waste our cities cannot get rid of.
According to CPCB and NITI Aayog projections, India generates approximately 62.4 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with that figure expected to reach 165 million tonnes by 2030. Much of this waste is energy-rich and non-recyclable. At the same time, cement kilns operate at material temperatures of approximately 1,450 degrees Celsius, with gas temperatures reaching 2,000 degrees. This high-temperature environment is ideal for co-processing, ensuring the complete thermal destruction of organic compounds without generating toxic residues. The physics are in our favour. The infrastructure is not.
Pre-processing is not the support act for co-processing. It is the main event. Get the particle size wrong, get the moisture wrong, get the calorific value wrong and your kiln thermal stability will suffer the consequences.

The regulatory push is real
The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2026 mandate that cement plants progressively replace solid fossil fuels with Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), starting at a 5 per cent baseline and scaling to 15 per cent within six years. NITI Aayog’s 2026 Roadmap for Cement Sector Decarbonisation targets 20 to 25 per cent Thermal Substitution Rate (TSR) by 2030. Beyond compliance, every tonne of coal replaced by RDF generates measurable carbon reductions which is monetisable under India’s emerging Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). TSR is no longer a sustainability metric. It is a financial lever.
Yet our own field assessments across multiple Indian cement plants reveal a sobering reality: the primary barrier to scaling AFR adoption is not waste availability. It is the fragmented and under-engineered pre-processing ecosystem that sits between the waste and the kiln.

Why Indian waste is a different engineering problem
Indian municipal solid waste is not the material that imported shredding equipment was designed for. Our waste streams frequently exceed 40 per cent to 50 per cent moisture content, particularly during monsoon cycles, saturated with abrasive inerts including sand, glass, and stone. Plants relying on imported OEM equipment face months of downtime awaiting proprietary spare parts. Machines built for segregated, low-moisture waste fail quickly and disrupt the entire pre-processing operation in Indian conditions.
The two most common failures we observe are what I call the biting teeth problem and the chewing teeth problem. Plants relying solely on a primary shredder reduce bulk waste to large fractions, but the output remains too coarse for stable kiln combustion. Others attempt to use a secondary shredder as a standalone unit without a primary stage to pre-size the feed, leading to catastrophic mechanical failure. When both stages are present but mismatched in throughput capacity, the system becomes a bottleneck. Achieving the 40 to 70 tonnes per hour required for meaningful coal displacement demands a precisely coordinated two-stage process.

Engineering a made-in-India answer
At Fornnax, our response to these challenges is grounded in one principle: Indian waste demands Indian engineering. Our systems are built around feedstock homogeneity, the holy grail of kiln stability. Consistent particle size and predictable calorific value are the foundation of stable kiln combustion. Without them, no TSR target is achievable at scale.
Our SR-MAX2500 Dual Shaft Primary Shredder (Hydraulic Drive) processes raw, baled, or loosely mixed MSW, C&I waste, bulky waste, and plastics, reducing them to approximately 150 mm fractions at throughputs of up to 40 tonnes per hour. The R-MAX 3300 Single Shaft Secondary Shredder (Hydraulic Drive), introduced in 2025, takes that primary output and produces RDF fractions in the 30 to 80 mm range at up to 30 tonnes per hour, specifically optimised for consistent kiln feeding. We have also introduced electric drive configurations under the SR-100 HD series, with capacities between 5 and 40 tonnes per hour, already operational at a leading Indian waste-processing facility.
Looking ahead, Fornnax is expanding its portfolio with the upcoming SR-MAX3600 Hydraulic Drive primary shredder at up to 70 tonnes per hour and the R-MAX2100 Hydraulic drive secondary shredder at up to 20 tonnes per hour, designed specifically for the large-scale throughput that higher TSR ambitions require.

The investment case is now
The 2070 Net-Zero target is not a distant goal for India’s cement sector. It starts today, with decisions being made on the plant floor.
The SWM Rules 2026 are already in effect, requiring cement plants to replace coal with RDF. Carbon credit markets are opening up, and coal prices are not going to get cheaper. Every tonne of coal a cement plant replaces with waste-derived fuel saves money on one side and generates carbon credit revenue on the other. Pre-processing infrastructure is no longer just a compliance requirement. It is a business investment with a measurable return.
The good news is that nothing is missing. The technology works. The waste is available in every Indian city. The government has provided the policy direction. The only thing standing between where the industry is today and where it needs to be is the commitment to build the right infrastructure.
The cement companies that move now will not just meet the regulations. They will be ahead of every competitor that waits.

About the author
Jignesh Kundaria is the Director and CEO of Fornnax Technology. Over an experience spanning more than two decades in the recycling industry, he has established himself as one of India’s foremost voices on waste-to-fuel technology and alternative fuel infrastructure.