Concrete

Shift Towards Sustainable Construction

Published

4 years ago

August 10, 2022

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Neeraj Akhoury, CEO India Holcim and Managing Director and CEO, Ambuja Cements, draws a clear path for sustainable shift towards blended cement, which would lead to lesser use of clinker, thereby enabling the industry to reach its decarbonisation targets.

In today’s world, cement stands shoulder to shoulder with core sectors like steel, energy and others as one of the key building blocks to nation building. With the current market size of $325 billion, the cement industry (in GDP terms) would rank among the top 50 industrialised nations in the world today. By 2028, this market is expected to grow to $460 billion. And when that happens, the global cement industry would have raced past another dozen or more countries in GDP terms.
Leaders in the cement sector across the world are not only aware of the opportunity this represents, but the weight of the responsibility that comes with it. Almost all major cement producers have committed themselves to a Net Zero future, an important decarbonisation movement that has also taken the larger industrial world by storm.

Planning Ahead
In the cement sector, we have identified every stage in the value chain as a potential target for decarbonisation. The execution of this change is happening within the bigger framework of ‘Circular Economy’. In simple terms, the principles of circular economy pushes manufacturers to treat every material (natural and processed) to be used in perpetuity. A key element in this system is the ability to cut down or reduce as one of the three Rs, along with reuse and recycling to achieve long term sustainability.
For the cement sector, one of the focus areas has been reduction of the use of clinkers in the manufacturing process, or what in industry parlance is called ‘clinker factor’. Clinker is an intermediary material used in the production of cement.
The reduction of clinker factor is achieved by replacing it with alternative blending materials like pozzolana, slag or fly ash (industrial waste) to produce blended cements. This reduces the carbon intensity of the cement—a primary lever for reduction of carbon emissions.
So, the more we shift towards blended cement, the lesser will be the use of clinker and thus move the cement industry closer to its ultimate decarbonisation targets.
The growing demand for blended cement in a country like India is particularly very effective in combating climate change. India is today the second-largest cement producer and consumer, with the share of blended cement of around 75 per cent of our total production mix. However, India’s per capita cement consumption at around 235 kg is less than half of the global average (520 kg).

Surging Demand
The economic growth we are foreseeing over the next few years and decades including the target of becoming a $5 trillion GDP will push the demand for cement to much higher levels. The surge in demand for cement can be environmentally sustained only by our efforts to push for wider use of blended and green cement. From the manufacturers point of view such a shift is already gaining a lot of momentum through more investment in R&D-led innovation to improve products and processes and in no small measure a strong and consistent consumer-focussed advocacy.
As one of the leading markets for cement in the world, this is an historic opportunity for India to establish its leadership in the true sense of the word.

About the author:
Neeraj Akhoury, CEO, Holcim India, and Managing Director and CEO of Ambuja Cements comes with over 28 years of experience in steel and cement industries. He has a degree in Economics and MBA from the University of Liverpool, and General Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He is on the board of governors at National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), and he also serves as Vice President of the Cement Manufacturers Association of India.

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Cement Prices Likely to Rise Rs. 10-15 per Bag from Mid-October

Input costs and steady demand may drive cement price increases

Published

3 hours ago

October 14, 2026

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Cement manufacturers in India are likely to raise prices by Rs. 10-15 per bag from mid-October, as they seek to offset persistent increases in power and fuel costs. Emkay Research said its channel checks indicated a high probability of an increase from October 12, supported by the start of the busy construction season and favourable demand-supply conditions.

The sector had implemented similar rate adjustments of Rs. 10-15 per bag during the first quarter, but the increases were insufficient to cover higher operating costs. Prices also softened during July and August because of the monsoon, widening the gap between realisations and input expenses. Delayed plant expansion programmes have pushed clinker utilisation rates towards 79 per cent by FY28, helping to balance market fundamentals.

Emkay Research said steady volume offtake was supporting cement consumption, with non-trade demand driving activity across regional markets. Industry volumes are expected to grow by 7-8 per cent year on year during the first half of FY27, while demand momentum is projected to remain firm over the following 18 months. The outlook includes the busy construction season in the second half of FY27 and infrastructure activity linked to general elections in the first half of calendar year 2029.

The brokerage expects overall cement demand to record a compound annual growth rate of about 7 per cent between FY26 and FY28. However, elevated operating expenses are likely to continue weighing on profitability. Input costs have risen by Rs. 300-400 per t over the past six to seven months, with the full impact expected to become visible in second-quarter earnings and remain persistent through the second half of FY27.

Spot prices for petcoke and imported coal are approximately 20 per cent and 16 per cent above their second-quarter averages, at USD 175 per t and USD 150 per t, respectively. Packing costs have also increased, with polypropylene granule prices rising above Rs. 135 per kg. Emkay Research estimated that second-quarter earnings could decline by Rs. 200-250 per t sequentially because of higher fuel bills and negative operating leverage, and said the sector requires sustained price increases of about Rs. 10 per bag to offset cost inflation.

Concrete

Nuvoco Marks 10 Years, Targets 35 MMTPA Capacity by FY28

Nuvoco celebrates a decade of growth, targeting 35 MMTPA cement capacity by FY28.

Published

1 day ago

October 13, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is celebrating a decade of operations under the theme ‘Dus Saal Bemisaal’, highlighting its expansion in India’s building materials sector. The company has grown from a single cement manufacturing facility into a diversified organisation operating across cement, ready-mix concrete (RMC) and modern building materials.

The company’s journey began in 2014 when its parent, Nirma Group, commissioned a 2 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. A major milestone followed in October 2016 with the acquisition of Lafarge India, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint.

Nuvoco strengthened its market presence through the acquisition of Emami Cement, now NU Vista Limited, in 2020, followed by its public listing in 2021. In April 2025, the company added Vadraj Cement to its portfolio, strengthening its presence in western India.

Nuvoco has an operating cement capacity of 27 MMTPA and 14 manufacturing units, including the Kutch and Sachana facilities in Gujarat, which are in advanced stages of completion. It also operates 58 ready-mix concrete plants across India and offers a range of modern building materials.

The company aims to increase its cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY2027-28, representing approximately 15-fold growth over the decade.

Reflecting on the milestone, Hiren Patel, Chairman, Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited, said, “From our beginnings at Nimbol to the organisation we are today, every milestone has added a new chapter to Nuvoco’s journey and strengthened our belief in building for the long term.”

The company continues to focus on capacity expansion, operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability while strengthening its position in India’s construction materials market.

Concrete

J&K Government Notifies City Gas Distribution Policy

Policy targets PNG and CNG expansion across all 20 districts

Published

1 day ago

October 13, 2026

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Jammu and Kashmir government has notified the City Gas Distribution (CGD) Policy, 2026, following its approval by the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The policy sets out a phased framework for expanding Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) access for households, businesses, industries and the transport sector across the Union Territory.

CGD networks will be expanded in phases across all 20 districts, with the aim of bringing reliable natural gas closer to consumers and supporting a gradual shift from conventional fuels. The government said the policy is designed to improve energy access while creating an investor-friendly and time-bound environment for gas distribution projects.

The policy provides for single-window and time-bound clearances, streamlined procedures for setting up CNG stations and standardised norms for the Right of Way. These measures are intended to reduce procedural delays, simplify project implementation and facilitate investment in natural gas infrastructure.

It also prioritises gas connectivity for major industrial estates, including those in Kathua, Samba and Pulwama. Improved access to natural gas is expected to support industrial activity, enhance energy efficiency and help businesses manage fuel costs, while strengthening their competitiveness and encouraging investment in the clean-energy sector.

The policy is also expected to create opportunities for local employment, apprenticeships and skill development in the construction, operation and maintenance of gas distribution networks and related services. Abdullah described the measure as an important step towards cleaner growth, sustainable development and a modern energy ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would expand reliable energy access and support industry and investment.