Concrete

Moving Towards Net-Zero

Published

4 years ago

January 16, 2023

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The 17th NCB International Conference on Cement, Concrete and Building Materials focussed on important aspects such as circular economy, sustainability, net zero and enhancing the use of alternative fuels for the Indian cement industry.

“The conference has given an opportunity for the industry to exchange thoughts and learnings through panel discussions and networking,” said Dr BN Mohapatra, DG-NCB.
The 17th International Conference on Cement, Concrete and Building Materials by the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) was held at Manekshaw Centre, Parade Road, New Delhi, from 6th to 9th December, 2022. Around 1,100 delegates attended the conference, which included 48 foreign delegates from 11 countries. During the span of the four-day event, 160 presentations were made in 20 technical sessions; 4 panel discussions were held, covering key topics of concerns for the industry; and speeches were delivered by keynote speakers.
NCB is the apex body in India for research, technology development and transfer, education and industrial services for cement, allied building materials and construction industries. The first NCB International Conference was held in the year 1987 and since then this is the 17th edition of the biennial event. ‘Moving Towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions’ was the theme of this year’s conference.
The conference was inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, while Shri Anil Agrawal, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Guest of Honour, delivered the speech on outlook of the Indian cement industry. The programme was initiated by Dr BN Mohapatra, DG-NCB, with a welcome address. KC Jhanwar, Chairman, NCB; President, Cement Manufacturers Association; and MD, UltraTech Cement, deliberated his views on ‘Indian Cement Industry-Future Outlook, Challenges & Opportunities.’ Mahendra Singhi, MD & CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat), presented his view on ‘Cement Industry Global Perspective.’
The Scientific Committee, comprising members from Niti Aayog, BIS, cement and construction industry, premier academic and research
institutes, was formed under the chairmanship
of Dr AK Chatterjee, Chairman, Conmat Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Chief Guest Shri Anurag Jain released four
NCB publications during the inaugural session.

These were:

The third edition of Compendium – The Cement Industry – India 2022
Publication on ‘Alternative Fuels – A Green Solution for Indian Cement Industry’
NCB Guide Norms on Cement Plant Operation
NCB Conference Proceedings containing full papers published in the conference

The conference was beneficial for a host of professionals from the industry such as cement and concrete professionals, top management personnel from cement and allied sectors, equipment / machinery manufacturers, designers and consultants, engineers, technologists, scientists, academicians, research scholars, students and economists, and users of cement and building materials as well as construction agencies.
The conference was sponsored by industry leaders such as UltraTech Cement
Dalmia Cement, JSW Cement, IKN India, Shree Cement, Nuvoco Vistas Corp, JK Cement, HeidelbergCement, JK Lakshmi Cement and KHD Humboldt Wedag India amongst others.
Supporting Organisations / Departments included:

Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Govt. of India
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA)

Its media partners were Industrial Angles, Indian Cement Review, Construction World, International Cement Review, World Cement, ZKG International and Civil Engineering & Construction Review (CE&CR).

Exclusive interaction with Dr Mohapatra

Impact on the Industry
“Our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken a target of achieving Net Zero by 2070. Cement and steel sectors shall play a prominent role in achieving this target. At the conference, there are multiple technical experts who are addressing the five core levers of decarbonisation i.e., clinker factor, enhancing alternative fuels and raw materials, reduction of thermal and electrical energy consumption, waste heat recovery and carbon storage.
Indian plants are doing well in four of the five levels. NCCBM will be taking the support of Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bureau of Energy Efficiency and DPIIT to collaborate with industries to launch pilot projects and get government help for its implementation. Without carbon storage becoming a strong lever, it would be difficult to achieve carbon the neutrality target.”

Towards Net Zero Target
“The Ministry of Commerce & Industry – DPIIT is taking up numerous roles in helping the cement industry achieve this objective. They have formed Divisional Council for Cement Industry (DCCI), which will monitor and support all five parameters. They will also fast track the implementation of rules and regulations for getting clearances in a single window for the cement business, as well as taking the lead in supply of gypsum. The Gati Shakti is looking into reducing the substantial logistics costs and lot more.
DPIIT is taking bold steps in supporting the Indian cement industry in streamlining all areas where the industry is facing issues. NCCBM is also member of all teams that support sustainability for the cement industry like innovation for decarbonisation, carbon sequencing etc.”
“NCCBM is taking a stewardship role in connecting the Indian cement industry, academia and research institutes on a single platform, to together come up with solutions.”

The Panel Discussions

PANEL 1: Moving towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions in Indian Cement Industry

Panellists:

Shri Jamshed N Cooper, Managing Director, HeidelbergCement India Ltd
Shri Kiran Patil, Managing Director, Wonder Cement Ltd
Shri V S Narang, Director (Technical), My Home Industries Pvt Ltd
Shri Ganesh Jirkuntwar, National Manufacturing Head, Dalmia Cement (B) Ltd
Matthias Mersmann, Chief Technical Officer, KHD Humboldt Wedag International, Germany
Dr B N Mohapatra, Director General, NCB

PANEL 2: Sustainability and Circular Economy in Cement and Construction Sector

Panellists:

Sanjay Pant, DDG (Standardization), BIS,
Neeraj Sinha, Sr Advisor (S&T), NITI Aayog
Prof D N Singh, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Prof Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI
K J Patel, Director & Unit Head, IFFCO Paradeep
Madhumita Basu, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd.
Dr S K Chaturvedi, Joint Director, NCB

PANEL 3: Enhancing AF & ARM utilisation in Indian Cement Industry

Panellists:

Shri Arun Kumar Shukla, CEO & Director, J K Lakshmi Cement Ltd.
Shri Vivek Agnihotri, CEO & Executive Director, Prism Johnson Ltd.
Shri Pankaj Kejriwal, Whole Time Director & COO, Star Cement Ltd.
Shri Sanjay Joshi, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd.
Shri S K Rathore, Chief Manufacturing Officer, J K Cement Ltd.
Shri G Veera Babu, Chief Manufacturing Officer, JSW Cement Ltd.
Shri Bimal Modi, Head (AFR), UltraTech
Cement Ltd.
Dr B N Mohapatra, DG-NCB

PANEL 4: National Mission on Sustainable Habitat -2030
Panellists:

Dr Shailesh Kr. Agrawal, Executive Director, BMTPC
Dr B Bhattacharjee, Emeritus Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
Prof K V L Subramaniam, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Hyderabad
Prof Amit Hajela, Director and
Domain Head, Amity School of Architecture and Planning
Yatin Choudhary, Fellow, TERI
P N Ojha, Jt. Director, NCB

The keynote presentations in the technical sessions covered the following topics:

160 papers were presented in 20 technical sessions based on specific themes like:

Low Carbon Cements
Other Binders and Building Materials
Alternate / Waste Fuels and Raw Materials
Net Zero Emissions, Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS)
Cement Plant Machinery and Project Engineering
Productivity Enhancement and Process Optimization
Energy Conservation Systems
Performance and Durability of Concrete
Concrete Deterioration Mechanisms and Advanced Concrete System
Advances in Grinding Systems
Emerging Trends
Total Quality Management
Analytical Methods and Lab Automation
Smart and High Performance Concrete
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
Distress Investigation, Repair/ Strengthening/ Retrofitting of Concrete Structures
Sustainable Construction Practices and Other Building Material and Binders

The chairman and co-chairman of the technical sessions were chosen from the senior executives of major cement companies. The papers were presented by cement plants personnel, cement plant machinery suppliers/OEMs, NCB scientist & Engineers, students from IITs, NITs, BITS Pilani etc. Based on evaluation done by the respective Chairman and Co-chairman of the technical session, one paper from each technical session has been selected as paper of high merit.

The Exhibition

The 17th NCB International Conference also had a technical exhibition, which was held concurrently at the conference venue. The exhibition gave additional exposure to the latest in available technologies and services for efficient operation of cement plants, making of concrete and construction activities. A cultural programme was also organised on day 2 of the conference, with performances that depicted India’s cultural diversity.
Speaking about the success of the conference, Dr Mohapatra said, “After this 4-day conference, I see a huge potential with the knowledge accumulated amongst the industry experts and an opportunity for cement manufacturers to innovate with low carbon cement products and support a circular economy. This conference has given high mileage to every sector.”
“NCCBM was a great platform for participating, where cement companies, machinery manufacturers and allied service providers shared technical knowledge and commercial aspects. Showcase of technical papers, achievement of various plants in terms of carbon emission, environment protection and good working conditions of various plants gives a feeling that we can feel proud of the Indian cement industry and say, ‘Saare jahan se acha, Hindustan hamara’. We distributed badges and tie sets marked with
‘Proud Indians’ at the conference,” said Pradip Kalra of Stotz Gears.
The Conference was received very well by the cement industry as was evident by the attendance and engagement of the delegates and visitors, who left behind encouraging testimonials, appreciating the successful organisation of the biennial conference by NCB.

The Awards

The concluding session of 17th NCB International Conference was held on 9th December 2022 and attended by Chief Guest Shri Som Parkash, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India and Guest of Honour Shri Shashank Priya, Special Secretary & Financial Advisor, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India along with Shri Jamshed N Cooper, MD, Heidelberg Cement India Ltd..; Dr B N Mohapatra, Director General-NCB and Dr S K Chaturvedi, Organising Secretary, 17th NCB International Conference. The Chief Guest also distributed the National Awards for Energy Efficiency, Environmental Excellence and Total Quality Excellence in the Indian Cement Industry for years 2019-22.

S.NO. AWARDS Plant Name
I. Awards for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants
1 Best Award for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants RCCPL Pvt. Ltd.,
Maihar, Madhya Pradesh
2 Second Best Award for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Sree Jayajothi Cements Pvt. Ltd., My Home Group Industries, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh
3 Third Best Award for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants JK Cement Works, Muddapur,
Karnataka
4 First Consolation Prize for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants UltraTech Cement Ltd., Unit: Kotputli Cement Works, Rajasthan
5 Second Consolation Prize for Energy Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., Sirohi, Rajasthan
II. Awards for Environment Excellence in
Integrated Cement Plants
1 Best Award for Environment Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Belagavi Unit, Karnataka
2 Second Best Award for Environment Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Dalmiapuram, Tamil Nadu
3 Third Best Award for Environment Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants JK Cement Works, Muddapur,
Karnataka
4 First Consolation Prize for Environment Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Shree Beawer Cement Plant,
Ajmer, Rajasthan
5 Second Consolation Prize for Environment Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu
III. Awards for Total Quality Excellence
in Integrated Cement Plants
1 Best Award for Total Quality Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Shree Cement Ltd. (RAS), Pali, Rajasthan
2 Second Best Award for Total Quality Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Birla Corporation Ltd.
Unit: Birla Cement Works & Chanderia Cement Works, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
3 Third Best Award for Total Quality Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants UltraTech Cement Ltd.,
Unit: Aditya Cement Works, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
4 First Consolation Prize for Total Quality Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants Shree Raipur Cement Plant, Shree Cement Ltd., Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
5 Second Consolation Prize for Total Quality Excellence in Integrated Cement Plants JK Cement Works, Muddapur, Karnataka

IV. Awards for Achieving Circular Economy in
Integrated Cement Plants
1 Best Award for Achieving Circular Economy in Integrated Cement Plants UltraTech Cement Ltd.,
Unit: Reddipalayam Cement Works, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu
2 Second Best Award for Achieving Circular Economy in Integrated Cement Plants JK Cement Works, Muddapur, Karnataka
3 Third Best Award for Achieving Circular Economy in Integrated Cement Plants Shree Beawer Cement Plant, Ajmer, Rajasthan
4 First Consolation Prize for Achieving Circular Economy in Integrated Cement Plants Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu
5 Second Consolation Prize for Achieving Circular Economy in Integrated Cement Plants Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd., Chittor Cement Plant, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
V. Awards for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units
1 Best Award for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units UltraTech Cement Ltd., Unit: Jharsuguda Cement Works, Odisha
2 Second Best Award for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., Kalol, Gujarat
3 Third Best Award for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units JK Cement Works, Jharli, Haryana
4 First Consolation Prize for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units Ambuja Cement Ltd. –Adani Group, Roorkee Grinding Unit, Uttarakhand
5 Second Consolation Prize for Energy Excellence in Grinding Units Calcom Cement India Ltd., Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Lanka, Assam
I. Awards for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units
1 Best Award for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units My Home Industries Pvt. Ltd., Mulakalapalli, Anakappali, Andhra Pradesh
2 Second Best Award for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units Star Cement Ltd., Guwahati, Assam
3 Third Best Award for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., Bokaro, Jharkhand
4 First Consolation Prize for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd., Kalol, Gujarat
5 Second Consolation Prize for Environment Excellence in Grinding Units JK Cement Works, Jharli, Haryana

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Cement to Expand EV Fleet to 120 Vehicles by March 2027

JK Lakshmi Cement has deployed more than 70 EVs across its logistics network.

Published

1 hour ago

October 30, 2026

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JK Lakshmi Cement has deployed more than 70 electric vehicles (EVs) across its logistics network and plans to increase the fleet to 120 vehicles by March 2027. The expansion is part of its decarbonisation strategy, which aims to reduce transport-related emissions and improve operational efficiency.

The company has achieved nearly 100 per cent EV-based clinker dispatches from its Sirohi plant in Rajasthan to the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat. The transition marks an increased use of electric mobility for long-haul cement transportation and is intended to lower the environmental impact of logistics operations.

The existing fleet operates on routes connecting the Sirohi plant with the Kalol Grinding Unit, Palanpur Unit and Surat Grinding Unit. JK Lakshmi Cement is working with electric vehicle logistics providers SwitchLabs and Billion E to support fleet deployment and manage transportation requirements across these routes.

The company expects the planned expansion to increase the use of electric mobility throughout its logistics network for moving cement and clinker. Chairperson and Managing Director Vinita Singhania said the programme reflected the integration of sustainable practices with the company’s focus on long-term business efficiency, while describing the Sirohi–Kalol transition as an important step in its wider decarbonisation strategy.

The EV programme forms part of JK Lakshmi Cement’s green logistics and sustainability roadmap, alongside initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce emissions across its value chain. The company has set a long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047. It is part of the JK Organisation and operates integrated cement plants in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, along with grinding units in Gujarat, Haryana and Odisha. The company has an annual turnover of more than Rs. 60 bn, combined cement capacity of approximately 18 mn t per annum and a target to raise capacity to 30 mn t by 2030. Its portfolio includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, primer, adhesives and fly ash blocks.

Concrete

Martin Engineering Appoints Ashwini Khunte as India General Manager

Published

8 hours ago

October 30, 2026

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Martin Engineering names Ashwini Khunte India General Manager to strengthen operations and drive growth across key bulk material handling sectors.

Pune

Martin Engineering, a global provider of bulk material handling solutions, has appointed Ashwini Khunte as General Manager of its India business, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its presence across the country’s cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure sectors.

Khunte brings more than a decade of experience with Martin Engineering, having joined its Indian operations in 2013 as a Design Engineer, shortly after the company established its presence in the country in 2012.

A mechanical engineer by qualification, she spent her initial five years developing bulk material handling solutions in collaboration with the company’s operations team. During this period, she gained extensive experience addressing operational challenges in the steel, cement and coal industries. She subsequently moved into project engineering, managing major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects from initial enquiry to commissioning. Her responsibilities later expanded to overseeing Martin Engineering’s conveyor product portfolio in India, involving customer engagement, technical presentations and site visits across heavy industries.

In 2024, Khunte was promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for the company’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and India (EMEAI) region. The position broadened her international market exposure and strengthened her strategic and commercial leadership capabilities.

Commenting on her appointment, Ashwini Khunte, General Manager, Martin Engineering India, said: “India represents a tremendous opportunity for Martin Engineering. The country’s continued investment in cement, mining, steel, power and infrastructure is creating increasing demand for safer, cleaner and more productive bulk material handling, and that’s exactly what we do. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already established in India, while continuing to develop our people, strengthen customer relationships and bring practical solutions to the challenges faced by our industry.”

Robert Whetstone, Area Vice President – EMEAI, Martin Engineering, highlighted Khunte’s technical expertise, market understanding and leadership experience.

“Ashwini brings an exceptional combination of technical understanding, customer knowledge and commercial leadership. She has grown as Martin Engineering has grown, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding capability to transform her expertise into practical solutions. Her knowledge of the Indian market, together with her international experience, makes her ideally suited to lead our India business through its next stage of growth for years to come.”

Since establishing its Indian business in 2012, Martin Engineering has expanded its local workforce, manufacturing capabilities and dealership network. The company supplies conveyor products, transfer point solutions, material flow aids, training and technical support to bulk material handling industries. Khunte’s appointment positions the company to further strengthen customer relationships and expand its solutions portfolio in India’s growing industrial and infrastructure markets.

Concrete

CII Calls for Greater Alternative Fuel Use in Cement Industry

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2026

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The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), through its Green Business Centre and Energy Efficiency Council, inaugurated the 16th Conference on Alternative Fuel and Raw Material Usage (AFR) in Goa on 27 October 2026. The two-day conference brought together more than 350 industry leaders, policymakers, waste management experts and technology providers to explore strategies for accelerating alternative fuel adoption in India’s cement industry.

Held under the theme ‘Preparation for Net-Zero: Alternative Fuels & Raw Material in Cement Manufacturing’, the conference focused on reducing dependence on conventional fuels, improving waste utilisation and strengthening circular economy practices across cement manufacturing operations.

E R Raj Narayanan, Chairman, AFR Conference 2026, and Business Head and Chief Manufacturing Officer, UltraTech Cement, highlighted the industry’s progress in alternative fuel adoption. He emphasised the need to scale implementation, strengthen supply chains and extend circularity beyond fuel substitution to alternative raw materials through technological innovation and industry collaboration.

Harish Adconkar, Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation, highlighted Goa’s progress in scientific waste management and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production. He stated that approximately 765,000 tonnes of RDF had been supplied to cement plants, contributing to an estimated displacement of 320,000–560,000 tonnes of coal. He emphasised the importance of consistent RDF offtake and stronger coordination between urban local bodies, waste management agencies and cement manufacturers.

Dr L P Singh, Director General, National Council for Cement and Building Materials, identified AFR as an important opportunity for decarbonisation and resource efficiency. Drawing parallels with the industry’s successful utilisation of fly ash, he stressed the need to address quality, technological and economic challenges to expand alternative fuel adoption.

Dr Sharad P Kale, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister of Goa and former Head of Technology Transfer and Collaboration at BARC, emphasised treating waste as a resource. He highlighted decentralised biodegradable waste processing, reduced food waste and improved resource recovery as essential measures for minimising landfill dependence.

Kiran Ananth, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Green Entrepreneurship, CII-Green Business Centre, noted that India’s cement production reached approximately 491 million tonnes in FY2025-26, while the industry’s thermal substitution rate (TSR) stood at 7.5 per cent, with around 7 million tonnes of alternative fuels utilised annually.

He added that the industry had invested over Rs 12 billion in co-processing infrastructure during the past six years. Improving RDF supply reliability and quality assurance would be crucial to maximising the utilisation of existing infrastructure and accelerating industrial decarbonisation.

The conference also featured discussions on advanced AFR co-processing technologies, waste pre-processing solutions and industrial best practices for improving fuel substitution and resource recovery.

A publication titled ‘From Waste to Kiln: Scaling the Use of MSW-Derived RDF in Indian Cement Plants’ was launched during the inaugural session. The report identified inconsistent RDF supply and quality as major barriers to achieving higher thermal substitution rates.

According to the publication, many cement kilns already possess the technical capability to achieve higher alternative fuel substitution. However, variations in RDF availability, moisture content, particle size and calorific value continue to limit utilisation. The report emphasised the need to strengthen waste segregation, pre-processing and aggregation systems to establish reliable RDF supply chains.

The conference’s second-day agenda includes discussions on innovative domestic and industrial waste management solutions, alternative raw materials for low-carbon cement and strategies to increase alternative fuel utilisation across India’s cement manufacturing sector.