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DPIIT, Ministries & FIRST Construction Council to discuss sustainability with cement industry captains at Cement EXPO 2023 on Dec 14-15

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Join DPIIT, Ministries & industry leaders at Cement EXPO 2023 on Dec 14-15 for sustainability talks

Sh. Sanjiv (Jt Secretary, DPIIT), Emir Adiguzel (Founder & Director, World Cement Association); Neeraj Akhoury (President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association, & MD, Shree Cement); Lt General Raghu Srinivasan (DG, Border Roads Organisation); Jaxay Shah (Chairperson, Quality Council of India); and Nilesh Narwekar (CEO, JSW Cement), Pankaj Kejriwal, (Director, Star Cement), among others will be star speakers at Indian Cement Review Conference and Awards 2023.

The event will see the participation of cement majors like Ultratech, JSW Cement, Star Cement, JK Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, Shree Cement, Wonder Cement, Birla Corporation, My Home Industries, Shree Digvijay Cement, Sagar Cement, etc.

More than 35 industry stalwarts will share their insights on the cement industry during Cement EXPO & ICR Conference 2023, which will be held from December 14-15, 2023, at Manekshaw Center, New Delhi.

Mumbai

As the Indian cement industry gears to add 145-155 million tonnes (MT) in fresh capacity with an investment of Rs 1.2 trillion, the 14th Edition of Cement EXPO – be held from December 14-15, 2023, at Manekshaw Center, New Delhi – will bring together industry leaders and other key stake holders on one platform to discuss the future trends and outlook for the sector.

Cement EXPO 2023, which will be co-located with the 9th Indian Cement Review (ICR) Conference and the 7th Indian Cement Review Awards, is organised by FIRST Construction Council (an infrastructure think tank) and Indian Cement Review (ICR), India’s leading cement publication that has been serving the industry for the last 38 years. The 14th Cement EXPO is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government e Marketplace (GeM), and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India (GoI).

According to experts, India’s cement industry, the second largest in the world, will add 80-100 MT of capacity by 2024-25 (FY25) itself, driven by increased spending on housing and infrastructure. However, this expansion needs to come with minimum impact on the environment by using modern technologies and automation solutions. With the theme of “Driving Sustainability Through Technology”, Cement EXPO and ICR Conference 2023 will highlight on decarbonisation strategies to be adopted by the industry across business value chain – from procurement to manufacturing to distribution & logistics. Some of the key Guest of Honour speakers for the event will be:

  • Sh. Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India
  • Emir Adiguzel, Founder & Director, World Cement Association
  • Lt General Raghu Srinivasan, Director general, Border Roads Organisation
  • Neeraj Akhoury, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association, & MD, Shree CementJaxay Shah, Chairperson, Quality Council of India
  • Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI

Sanjay Pant, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards

“With climate change issues posing big challenge to the industry, cement companies are putting in big innovation efforts directed towards mitigating the problem of climate change. With an apt theme of ‘Driving Sustainability Through Technology’, Cement EXPO will bring together the cement manufacturers, technology/equipment providers and other key stakeholders (like policy makers, building & construction companies, project vendors, etc) under one roof to explore the possibility of the carbon-neutral growth path for the industry. So, participate in Cement EXPO 2023 & ICR Conference to explore unlimited possibilities to grow your business,” stated Pratap Padode, Founder & President, FIRST Construction Council.

The event will see the participation of cement majors like Ultratech, JSW Cement, Star Cement, JK Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, Shree Cement, Wonder Cement, Birla Corporation, My Home Industries, Shree Digvijay Cement, and Sagar Cement, among others.

ICR Conference will provide valuable insights into the transformative power of sustainable technology in the cement industry and highlight the importance of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing to drive the industry towards a more sustainable future. In addition, the conference will delve into the latest innovations and practices that are reshaping the cement industry, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

More than 35 industry stalwarts will share their insights on the cement industry during Cement EXPO & Indian Cement Review Conference. Some of the leading experts addressing the conference include: Dr LP Singh (Director General, National Council for Cement & Building Materials); Arun Shukla (President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement); Naveen Kumar (Director, Udaipur Cement Works); K K Rajeev Nambiar (CEO & MD, Digvijay Cement); Shailendra Kumar Gupta (Chief Operating Officer & Cluster Head-North Zone, Ultratech); Anuj Khandelwal (Business Head – Grey Cement, JK Cement Ltd); Pankaj Kejriwal (Executive Director, Star Cement); Nilesh Narwekar (CEO, JSW Cement); Durgamadhab Mohanty (Senior VP – IT, Birla Corporation Ltd); Vimal Kumar Jain (Technical Director, Heidelberg Cement); Hemantkumar Aiyer (VP and Head R&D, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd); Arun Attri (CIO, Wonder Cement Limited); Ulhas Parlikar (Global Consultant for Waste Management, Circular Economy, Policy Advocacy, AFRs & Co-processing); Ashwani Pahuja (Chairman & Managing Director, NextCem Consulting); K N Rao (Corporate Head EHS, AFR Energy Sustainability, My Home Industries); Manoj Vyas (Head – AFR Sourcing, Nuvoco Vistas); Dr S B Hegde (Prof Jain University & Visiting Professor Pennsylvania State University, USA); Manoj Rustagi (EVP & CSO, JSW Cement); Saurabh Palsania (Jt President, Shree Cement); Kaustubh Phadke (India Head, Global Cement & Concrete Association); Manish Chordia (Regional Sales Manager – Cement, South Asia & Africa, ABB India Ltd); Dr Bibekanand Mohapatra (Advisor & Consultant, CMO-Cell, Ultratech), etc.

The winners of the 7th Indian Cement Review (ICR) Awards – which are given for the fastest growing cement companies and stalwarts (under “Person of the Year” and “Lifetime Achievement” categories) for their contribution in the cement industry – will also be felicitated at the 14th Edition of Cement EXPO. With over 70 exhibitors, Cement EXPO (along with ICR Conference & Awards) is expected to attract more than 5,000 quality visitors. Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) and Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) have extended their support to the event.

Some of the companies sponsoring Cement EXPO 2023 include ABB, Gebr Pfeiffer, JK Cement, Flender, ATS Conveyors, ISGEC, Humboldt Wedag, TIDC (a Murugappa Group company), IKN Engineering, Taiheiyo Engineering Corporation, Loesche, and Star Cement among others. Exhibitors such as Rockwell Automation, Bosch Rexroth, Danfoss Drive, Elann Drive & Automation Pvt Ltd, Shanthi Gears, Diamond Group, Kanodia Cement Limited, Verder Scientific Pvt Ltd, Ringfeder Power, Singhania Systems, Elektromag Devices Pvt Ltd, Pentol Germany, etc, will be showcasing their latest technologies at the EXPO.

The 14th Cement EXPO will witness participation of a diverse range of exhibitors representing different facets of the cement industry, including: Cement Equipment Manufacturers; Cement & Concrete Manufacturers; Raw Material Suppliers; Cement Testing and Quality Control Equipment Provider; Construction Equipment; Automation & IT Solutions Providers; Admixtures and Chemical Suppliers; Concrete Reinforcement and Structural Systems; Logistics and Transportation Service Providers; and Material Handling Solutions, among others.

The EXPO will attract key decision makers from the industry such as CEOs/MDs, Plant Managers, Technology Heads, CIOs, Procurement & Supply Chain Heads, Government Representatives (Union as well as States), Associations, Consultants, Construction & Infrastructure Companies; Industrial Estates; etc.

To attend the Indian Cement Review Conference & Awards 2023 as a delegate, contact Ms Yasmin on +91 842 2874 010 or Yasmin.H@ASAPPinfoGlobal.com

For exhibition & sponsorship related enquiry about Cement EXPO 2023, contact Mr Sujoy Gomes on +91 86577 95881 or Sujoy.G@ASAPPinfoGlobal.com

Concrete

India’s Cement Sector Cuts Energy Use, but Worker Safety Worsens

iFOREST finds efficiency gains alongside water and safety concerns

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India’s cement sector has improved its energy and carbon efficiency, but rising groundwater use in water-stressed regions and deteriorating worker safety remain significant concerns, according to a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST). The findings also highlighted weak policy implementation and gaps in sustainability reporting.

India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, uses about 2.54 gigajoules of energy per tonne (GJ/t), below the global average of 2.88 GJ/t. However, renewable sources accounted for only 5.1 per cent of the sector’s energy mix, indicating continued dependence on conventional sources.

The report assessed 18 cement companies against 107 Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting indicators for FY24 and FY25. The companies covered 87 per cent of India’s cement production. Carbon emissions intensity declined from 0.58 to 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne, but total emissions increased 4 per cent to 224.3 mn t, equivalent to about 6 to 7 per cent of India’s overall emissions.

Overall water withdrawal declined 9.5 per cent during the study period, while withdrawals in water-stressed areas, mainly in Rajasthan, increased by more than 20 per cent. Groundwater’s share of withdrawals in these areas rose from 27 per cent to 38 per cent, raising concerns about the sector’s impact on vulnerable water resources.

The sector employs about 228,000 people, including 63 per cent contractual workers, 3.1 per cent women and 0.07 per cent persons with disabilities. Women in key managerial roles earned 26.8 per cent less than men, while median pay for women workers fell 11.1 per cent in FY25 as men’s pay increased. Worker injuries rose 36.5 per cent to 359, and fatalities increased from 17 to 22, with workers accounting for more than 90 per cent of deaths.

iFOREST recommended cement-specific reporting guidance, standardised metrics, mandatory production disclosure and third-party verification. It also called for environmental, social and governance policies to be integrated into business strategies and implemented more effectively on the ground.

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Concrete

Ambuja Cements Expects Volume Growth to Outpace Industry in H2

Ambuja Cements sees stronger trade and institutional demand in H2 FY27.

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Ambuja Cements expects its sales volumes to grow faster than the cement industry during the second half of fiscal year 2027, as it seeks a recovery in institutional demand after a weak first half. The Gautam Adani-owned company is aiming to rebuild volumes while protecting profitability.

The company reported a 90 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent to Rs. 1.93 bn for the quarter ended 30 September, from Rs. 17.74 bn a year earlier. The previous year’s profit included a reversal of income-tax provisions worth Rs. 16.97 bn. Revenue from operations rose marginally to Rs. 91.66 bn from Rs. 91.3 bn.

Trade volumes increased 8.6 per cent year-on-year in the September quarter, but weaker institutional sales left overall volumes broadly unchanged. Ambuja Cements expects both trade and institutional sales to turn positive in the third and fourth quarters. Trade sales are made through dealers and distributors, while institutional or business-to-business sales involve bulk supplies to infrastructure developers, government projects and real estate companies.

The company had earlier reduced institutional sales that did not generate adequate returns. It now plans to rebuild the business selectively, while continuing to prioritise trade sales and higher-value products. Trade accounted for 74 per cent of sales in the quarter, up six percentage points from a year earlier, while premium products increased to 37 per cent of trade sales from 35 per cent. Blended cement’s share rose to 82 per cent from 77 per cent.

Ambuja Cements commissioned 4.6 mn t of capacity during the quarter. Another 3.2 mn t at Bathinda in Punjab and Jodhpur has stabilised, with the facilities expected to ramp up in the second half. A further 2.4 mn t facility at Varkala in Bihar is scheduled for commissioning during the period. Higher fuel and logistics costs remain a challenge, while the company has realised a cement price increase of about Rs. 10 per bag in October and is targeting operating costs of Rs. 4,250 per t for the full year.

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Cement Begins Rs 110 Billion Assam Plant Project

The 2.5 MTPA integrated cement plant is expected to be completed by FY2029.

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JK Lakshmi Cement has recently laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking its entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The project involves an investment of Rs 110 billion, including the mining lease, and will have an annual cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, supported by a 1 million tonne clinkerisation unit. Scheduled for completion by FY2029, the facility is expected to generate employment for over 2,000 people while catering primarily to the growing Northeast market.
The integrated plant will feature dedicated railway sidings to facilitate efficient transportation of raw materials and finished cement, strengthening supply chain reliability and regional distribution.
Vinita Singhania, Chairperson and Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement, said, “”Project Kamakshi is the start of a long-term relationship with Assam and the wider North East. This is a region that is building fast, and it deserves quality cement made close to home. With this plant, we want to bring scale, jobs, and dependable supply to the region. At JK Lakshmi Cement, we believe that building a stronger India goes beyond infrastructure. It is also about growing together with the communities we serve.””
The investment aligns with the company’s strategy to expand into high-growth markets beyond its established presence in Northern, Western and Eastern India. The project is also expected to support regional economic development and infrastructure growth.
JK Lakshmi Cement aims to pursue its expansion plans while working towards its long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.

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