Concrete

Environmentally Speaking

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2023

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Sustainable mining is the buzzword for all industries depending on mined raw materials, especially the cement sector. It is, therefore, imperative that we take a closer look at its economic and environmental impact.

The focus on mining in the context of cement has more than one reason to be at the top of the agenda on sustainability. With the sheer growth of this sector as an extractive process that touches many aspects of the environment on the one hand, and leaves the livelihoods of the people associated in a state of quandary on the other, given that the life of the mine and that of the prosperity of the people get intertwined.
The narratives have changed from the mere lifecycle of the mineral deposit to the complete sustainability that includes an integrated and holistic approach to preclude economic, environmental and social value from mining and allied operations and supply chains for a large number of stakeholders.

Economic Repercussions
The prelude to this narrative is the understanding of stakeholder responsibilities at a time when some parts of the world, where the global extractive process for limestone, the key mineral for producing cement, has seen capacities being ramped up to serve the burgeoning rise of cement demand. As ballpark estimates suggest, for a 4 billion tonne cement output of the world, the limestone requirement stands at close to 2.8 billion tonnes, which is the highest mineral ore extracted every year from the deposits of the world, which happens to be the top cover of the earth’s surface.
Most of these deposits occur closer to forests, biodiversity and tribal populations, essentially places where economic progress has been slow. If one looks at the total extractive mineral output, one would be seeing a three-fold increase over the last four decades. From 1970 to 2017, the annual global extraction of materials tripled and the global use of materials is expected to more than double from 79 Gt in 2011 to 167 Gt in 2060. Minerals that are non-metallic, such as construction material, e.g., sand and gravel, represent more than half of the total use of materials by weight and their use is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years (from 35 Gt in 2011 to 82 Gt in 2060). Cement industry, coupled with the concrete that needs aggregates and sand, is a part of the extractive mining industry landscape, and thus the environmental and social impact of mining becomes a very important subject, if one adds these supply chains as well.
On the one hand, mining as an economic activity could be encouraging for the populace, it could end up with the ‘Resource Curse’ as well, as mines reach the end of cycle of the deposits. Thankfully at least for cement, we have a burgeoning downstream, mostly closer to the mining operations, where a vibrant downstream operation is established that employs larger sections of people and thus livelihoods are intertwined on a bigger scale through supply chains that crisscross. Apart from the building and construction industry, which requires 80 per cent of the extraction, we still have steel, agriculture and chemical Industries needing limestone mining for a number of reasons.

Keeping Track of Sustainability
Sustainability reporting, which is mostly voluntary reporting, is at the core of the sustainable initiatives, sometimes prompted by the Country Reporting guidelines and Environmental and Sustainability Goals (ESG) of 2015 or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The investors also demand more disclosure on Sustainability Initiatives with clear mandates that can be verified through trends and data. However, the 2018 Responsible Investing Survey and the 2020 Responsible Mining Index cites lack of quantity and quality in the reporting so far. Stakeholders increasingly require information on the environmental and social impacts of mining at the mine-site level, and presented in the local context. Sometimes there is little use to look at headline numbers aggregated over many sites across countries. Focus on site level reporting that gives periodic data on a host of environmental and social impact of mining becomes the important indicator of progress.
Some of the sustainability indicators at the site level include:

Impact on biodiversity: Number/percentage of sites with biodiversity management plans
Description of significant impacts on biodiversity: Amount of land disturbed or rehabilitated and information on the use of biodiversity offsets
GHG emissions and energy use: Amount of CO2e GHG emissions and mitigation measures and energy consumption and reductions
Water management: Amount of water withdrawal by source and water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water
Health and safety: Number of accidents/deaths, information on training on health and safety management security / human rights and rights of indigenous peoples
Number/percentage of reserves in or near areas of conflict: Number/percentage of reserves in or near indigenous lands and engagement processes in place
Processes in place to prevent child or forced labour and impact on local communities and local community engagement
Number of operating sites where resettlement took place, number of households resettled in each site and information on how their livelihoods were affected in the process
Number/percentage of operations with local community engagement (including minority groups such as women), and/ or environmental/social impact assessments
Number/percentage of operations with significant negative impacts on local communities – Proportion of spending on local suppliers

Apart from these, water and air quality and gender diversity in mining operations have become important pointers as well. For mining operations in cement, site remediation and rehabilitation become an area of focus as many mines have reached their end of life. One of the ways to enforce this has been to enforce some of these at the inception of the Environment Impact Assessment and Mining Permit stage itself. With the lack of site-specific reporting as evidenced in almost 90 per cent of the mining sustainability reporting, corporate level reporting is only a high-level aggregation of most of data, masking site level inadequacies, which has been pointed out in both the Responsible Investing Survey and Sustainable Mining Index 2020.
If one looks at the expansion of the scope for the building and construction industry, where only a smaller part is covered under the cement-limestone mining operations and the larger part falls under aggregates and sand mining operations, which remains uncovered by sustainability reporting as most of these fall under small scale industry structure,
absolving them of the detailed disclosure requirements. It is therefore to be concluded that for most developing nations, we still have a long way to progress as far as sustainable mining operations are concerned. The entire supply chain of mining operations for concrete / building and construction industry must be looked at where the suppliers of sand, gravel and aggregates must be brought under the same purview and this leaves a lot to be desired as these
supply chains have third party sourcing activities lacking the rigour of the bigger corporate entities like cement companies.

-Procyon Mukherjee

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FORNNAX Appoints Dieter Jerschl as Sales Partner for Central Europe

Published

6 days ago

February 5, 2026

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FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its new sales partner in Germany to strengthen its presence across Central Europe. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of FORNNAX’s high-capacity, sustainable recycling solutions while building long-term regional capabilities.

FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, one of the leading advanced recycling equipment manufacturers, has announced the appointment of a new sales partner in Germany as part of its strategic expansion into Central Europe. The company has entered into a collaborative agreement with Mr. Dieter Jerschl, a seasoned industry professional with over 20 years of experience in the shredding and recycling sector, to represent and promote FORNNAX’s solutions across key European markets.

Mr. Jerschl brings extensive expertise from his work with renowned companies such as BHS, Eldan, Vecoplan, and others. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led the deployment of both single machines and complete turnkey installations for a wide range of applications, including tyre recycling, cable recycling, municipal solid waste, e-waste, and industrial waste processing.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Jerschl said,
“I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art & high-capacity technology, it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey.”

The partnership will primarily focus on Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and neighbouring countries, with the flexibility to extend the geographical scope based on project requirements and mutual agreement. The collaboration is structured to evolve over time, with performance-driven expansion and ongoing strategic discussions with FORNNAX’s management. The immediate priority is to build a strong project pipeline and enhance FORNNAX’s brand presence across the region.

FORNNAX’s portfolio of high-performance shredding and pre-processing solutions is well aligned with Europe’s growing demand for sustainable and efficient waste treatment technologies. By partnering with Mr. Jerschl—who brings deep market insight and established industry relationships—FORNNAX aims to accelerate adoption of its solutions and participate in upcoming recycling projects across the region.

As part of the partnership, Mr. Jerschl will also deliver value-added services, including equipment installation, maintenance, and spare parts support through a dedicated technical team. This local service capability is expected to ensure faster project execution, minimise downtime, and enhance overall customer experience.

Commenting on the long-term vision, Mr. Jerschl added,
“We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to ten years.”

For FORNNAX, this partnership aligns closely with its global strategy of expanding into key markets through strong regional representation. The company believes that local partnerships are critical for navigating complex market dynamics and delivering solutions tailored to region-specific waste management challenges.

“We see tremendous potential in the Central European market,” said Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of FORNNAX.
“Partnering with someone as experienced and well-established as Mr. Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally,” he added.

This collaboration further strengthens FORNNAX’s commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and sustainable waste management, supporting the transition toward a greener and more circular future.

Concrete

Budget 2026–27 infra thrust and CCUS outlay to lift cement sector outlook

Published

1 week ago

February 2, 2026

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Higher capex, city-led growth and CCUS funding improve demand visibility and decarbonisation prospects for cement

Mumbai

Cement manufacturers have welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27’s strong infrastructure thrust, with public capital expenditure increased to Rs 12.2 trillion, saying it reinforces infrastructure as the central engine of economic growth and strengthens medium-term prospects for the cement sector. In a statement, the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) has welcomed the Union budget 2026-27 for reinforcing the ambitions for the nation’s growth balancing the aspirations of the people through inclusivity inspired by the vision of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Atmanirbharta.

The budget underscores India’s steady economic trajectory over the past 12 years, marked by fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation, and offers strong demand visibility for infrastructure linked sectors such as cement.

The Budget’s strong infrastructure push, with public capital expenditure rising from Rs 11.2 trillion in fiscal year 2025–26 to Rs 12.2 trillion in fiscal year 2026–27, recognises infrastructure as the primary anchor for economic growth creating positive prospects for the Indian cement industry and improving long term visibility for the cement sector. The emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with populations above 5 lakh and the creation of City Economic Regions (CERs) with an allocation of Rs 50 billion per CER over five years, should accelerate construction activity across housing, transport and urban services, supporting broad based cement consumption.

Logistics and connectivity measures announced in the budget are particularly significant for the cement industry. The announcement of new dedicated freight corridors, the operationalisation of 20 additional National Waterways over the next five years, the launch of the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise the modal share of waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047, and the development of ship repair ecosystems should enhance multimodal freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve the sector’s carbon footprint. The announcement of seven high speed rail corridors as growth corridors can be expected to further stimulate regional development and construction demand.

Commenting on the budget, Parth Jindal, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), said, “As India advances towards a Viksit Bharat, the three kartavya articulated in the Union Budget provide a clear context for the Nation’s growth and aspirations, combining economic momentum with capacity building and inclusive progress. The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) appreciates the Union Budget 2026-27 for the continued emphasis on manufacturing competitiveness, urban development and infrastructure modernisation, supported by over 350 reforms spanning GST simplification, labour codes, quality control rationalisation and coordinated deregulation with States. These reforms, alongside the Budget’s focus on Youth Power and domestic manufacturing capacity under Atmanirbharta, stand to strengthen the investment environment for capital intensive sectors such as Cement. The Union Budget 2026-27 reflects the Government’s focus on infrastructure led development emerging as a structural pillar of India’s growth strategy.”

He added, “The Rs 200 billion CCUS outlay for various sectors, including Cement, fundamentally alters the decarbonisation landscape for India’s emissions intensive industries. CCUS is a significant enabler for large scale decarbonisation of industries such as Cement and this intervention directly addresses the technology and cost requirements of the Cement sector in context. The Cement Industry, fully aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitment by 2070, views this support as critical to enabling the adoption and scale up of CCUS technologies while continuing to meet the Country’s long term infrastructure needs.”

Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA, said, “The government’s sustained infrastructure push supports employment, regional development and stronger local supply chains. Cement manufacturing clusters act as economic anchors across regions, generating livelihoods in construction, logistics and allied sectors. The budget’s focus on inclusive growth, execution and system level enablers creates a supportive environment for responsible and efficient expansion offering opportunities for economic growth and lending momentum to the cement sector. The increase in public capex to Rs 12.2 trillion, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and the creation of City Economic Regions stand to strengthen the growth of the cement sector. We welcome the budget’s emphasis on tourism, cultural and social infrastructure, which should broaden construction activity across regions. Investments in tourism facilities, heritage and Buddhist circuits, regional connectivity in Purvodaya and North Eastern States, and the strengthening of emergency and trauma care infrastructure in district hospitals reinforce the cement sector’s role in enabling inclusive growth.”

CMA also noted the Government’s continued commitment to fiscal discipline, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP in FY27, reinforcing macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.

Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

Published

1 week ago

January 31, 2026

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Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

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