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Shree Cement overtakes ACC to commission world’s largest kiln in UAE

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Shree Cement has surpassed ACC to come up with the world’s largest cement kiln at Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. "We have operationalised the plant and now it is the world’s largest cement kiln with a capacity to produce 14,500 tonne per day (tpd)," H M Bangur, managing director,Shree Cement told Business Standard.

It is 2,000 tpd higher than ACC’s Wadi II Plant in Karnataka. ACC said one of its lines in its Wadi II plant has the company’s largest kiln with a capacity of 12,500 tpd. Industry officials noted that ACC’s Wadi II plant had held the distinction of being the largest cement kiln in the world, which now has been overtaken by Shree Cement.

Against ACC’s total installed capacity of 33.41 mtpa, Shree Cement’s current installed capacity stands at 41.90 mtpa.

Kiln volume is essentially a plant’s capacity to produce portland and other types of cement. A kiln is used for pyroprocessing stage in the manufacturing process where calcium carbonate is reacted with silica-bearing minerals to form a mixture of calcium silicates.

Shree Cement has invited Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, to Kolkata as well.

"I had invited Qasimi to come to Kolkata and he has responded to my request. We met over lunch at our home today (Thursday) and discussed various things including the state of the economy," Bangur said.

Strong hold

  • Shree Cement acquired Union Cement in 2018 at an enterprise value of $305.24 mn
  • Of four, only one kiln line is active in Union Cement
  • Union Cement kiln can produce 14,500 tpd, making it the largest kiln in the world
  • In 2018-19, Union Cement made a net profit of $9.79 mn, with a turnover of $114.6 mn In January 2018, Shree Cement had acquired 93 per cent stake in the 4-mtpa Union Cement Company at an enterprise value of $305.24 million, which is the largest and most profitable cement company in the UAE.
  • At the time of acquisition, Bangur had said since Union Cement was 40 years old, two of the kilns were discarded and another kiln was shut that left Shree Cement with only one kiln, which was set up in 2006. However, the plant is located within 1 km of Saqr Port in the UAE that gives it access to key export destinations like Gulf Cooperation Countries, Africa and South Asia.

    Sources said feasibility study had also been undertaken to revive the third closed kiln as well. Though analysts remained sceptical about Shree Cement’s foray into the UAE, they argue that a low return on equity is possible. The company acquired Union Cement for $76 a tonne, which is lower than $84 a tonne, which UltraTech Cement paid in 2010 while acquiring the 3.2 mtpa Dubai-based ETA Star Cement for $269 million.

    During 2018-19, Union Cement made a net profit of $9.79 million, with a turnover of $114.60 million. The Ebitda stood at $19.81 million.

    Industry officials said that the total capacity in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is pegged at around 142 mtpa across 52 facilities with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for around 51 per cent of the installed capacity. UAE has the second highest installed capacity at 39 mtpa but it consumes only half of the production domestically. The rest is exported primarily across GCC and East Africa.

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    Concrete

    Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication 

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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. 

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    Concrete

    JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

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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.”

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    Concrete

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

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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.

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