Connect with us

Concrete

Leading the Green Revolution

Published

on

Shares

Ajay Kapur, CEO – Cement Business, Adani Group, explores India’s proactive measures, from embracing renewable energy and waste heat recovery to reducing clinker usage and innovatively repurposing industrial by-products, signaling a promising shift towards sustainable cement manufacturing.

Imagine a world without cement – it’s almost like picturing a skyline without its defining structures. As one of the most commonly used building materials, the manufacturing of cement faces significant challenges in decarbonising. Tackling this challenge goes beyond the ordinary, considering that the cement sector is a major player, contributing up to 7-8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The significance of this issue is particularly pronounced for India, as we currently hold the dual status of the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of cement. The production capacity of the Indian cement sector is poised to grow to more than 700 million tonnes (MT) over the next five years from around 570 MT now. Consumption on the other hand is also set to grow to 450 MT by 2027.
As the Indian economy expands and continues on this growth path to reach $5 trillion in GDP in the near term and emerge as the world’s third largest economy before the end of the current decade, the environmental challenges will also become more formidable.
Most large cement manufacturers in India have already committed to becoming carbon neutral sometime around the middle of this century and this is also going to contribute to India’s Net Zero ambition set for 2070. The road ahead for Indian cement manufacturers is very similar to what the energy sector faces. India’s economic turnaround that started in 1991 also brought home conversations around the rising and unprecedented levels of consumption of energy to fire up the economy, putting the country under the environmental spotlight, too. Cement production is not only energy intensive but also depends on natural mineral resources. The widespread adoption of well-understood and sustainable cement production practices has been a gradual process, gaining momentum over time. Today, the Indian cement sector is ready to meet sustainability challenges head-on through a whole range of measures that covers the entire value chain in cement manufacturing, leading all the way to increasing the share of green cement on the demand side.

Alternative fuel and raw materials
Being an energy-intensive sector, cement manufacturers have started investing in cleaner sources of energy like solar and wind as captive generation units to run their plants. This shift in no small measure is supported by the falling cost of renewable energy India. Between 2010 and now, the cost of solar modules in India have dropped by more than 80 per cent, making it one of the most sought after sources of clean energy for large industrial units including cement. Similar efforts are also on to move finished cement, packed and bulk on more sustainable or green logistics like soya extract-based biofuel powered shipping. Bulk terminals and grinding units along India’s long coastline can enable the movement of clinker and cement through the sea route at the lowest possible cost.
The share of green energy is further enhanced through investments in Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS). These systems not only adhere to the principles of the circular economy but also result in fossil fuels savings. This not only nurtures a more cost-efficient process but also directly impacts the bottom line.
According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Indian cement Industry has the highest potential to adopt WHRS as an alternative to conventional sources of energy. WHRS installations will continue to grow along with the increase in capacity to manufacture cement, bringing it close to 1.3 GW at current production capacity levels. It is estimated that WHRS would help replace the energy requirement equivalent to 8.6 million tonnes of coal, resulting in emissions savings of 12.8 million tonnes of CO2 by the Indian cement manufacturers.
Cement manufacturers are also cutting down on the ‘clinker factor’ by replacing them with industrial by-products without compromising the quality (strength) of the cement. Cutting down the clinker factor offers two immediate benefits. One, it reduces energy consumption because clinker is produced at ~1400°C (from limestone etc.,) and two, it also softens the environmental impact of by-products like flyash, slag and silica fumes. Manufacturing a tonne of Ordinary Portland cement also releases around 800 kg of CO2. Investments are also made in recycling massive quantities of municipal waste into Refuse Derived Fuel or RDF through its pre- and co-processing facilities, which is then used as energy to run cement kilns. The impact of producing and using RDF not only saves on energy from conventional sources but also helps large cities manage municipal waste in a safe manner. Mega cities like Mumbai are now working with cement companies to manage municipal waste through a symbiotic relationship that benefits manufacturers and city administrators.
Red mud, a waste derived from aluminium production, is also now used in the cement manufacturing process as an alternative raw material. Again, this helps build a circular economy through utilisation of aluminium industry’s by-products in an environmentally sound manner. Other large industrial sectors like pharmaceuticals also tapped for zero residue of their process waste and ETP sludge. Similarly cement manufacturers are also able to process hazardous wastes released by the automobile and automobile ancillary sector such as chromium, zinc and paint sludge, oil residue and cotton waste.
Water management is yet another area that is making cement manufacturing in India more sustainable. Apart from becoming water positive (returning more water than what is consumed) from an operations point of view, a lot is also being done under the larger banner of CSR where cement manufacturers are now active participants in water conservation projects, working along with local rural communities including farmers. Large cement manufacturers in India are also working on conserving biodiversity in their areas of operations including large afforestation projects, which helps in strengthening the water table.

Conclusion
India today has a very robust legislative mechanism to ensure that industrial sectors like cement abide by environmental laws. But cement manufacturers, recognising the growing environmental consciousness among consumers, are actively pursuing higher benchmarks to minimise burden on environmental damage. With the growing consumer centricity that has moved cement from being a commodity to a branded consumer product, manufacturers are now able to offer sustainability as part of the brand value and appeal. Green cement as a product in India is still in its nascent stage with a miniscule share in the overall market. It is expected to grow in coming years as sustainability is an important factor for today’s buyers.
Today’s well-informed consumers also expect manufacturers to play a more responsible role in protecting the environment through sustainable manufacturing practices. The transformation of the Indian cement sector has only begun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ajay Kapur, CEO – Cement Business, Adani Group
has over 30 years of expertise in the cement, construction, power and heavy metals sector. He has been extensively involved in several business forums, such as CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM.

Concrete

ACC Barmana Plant Fails Environmental Compliance

The plant has 11 air pollution control devices.

Published

on

By

Shares



A National Green Tribunal (NGT) joint committee has identified environmental compliance failures at Adani Group’s ACC Ltd Barmana Cement Works (Gagal), Himachal Pradesh. 
The report cited dust emissions from clinker, ash, and cement silos, inadequate safeguards against accidental discharges, and insufficient protection for local residents from dust pollution. It also noted the lack of an oil and grease removal mechanism in wastewater from truck washing and the absence of a mandated three-layer tree plantation to mitigate air and noise pollution. 
The plant has 11 air pollution control devices, including 109 bag filters and two ESPs, but is currently operating at 25% utilisation due to an annual maintenance shutdown. Mining and crushing operations remain suspended. 
(cemnet) 

Continue Reading

Concrete

Shree Cement Launches Bangur Marble Cement in Ranchi

The product was launched in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Published

on

By

Shares



Shree Cement has introduced Bangur Marble Cement, a premium PSC cement under its Bangur Cement brand, offering high brightness, superior strength, and crack resistance. Designed for exposed concrete structures, it ensures durability and an imposing aesthetic. 
The product was launched in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and will soon be available in Bihar, West Bengal, and other states. It will be distributed through over 2,000 retailers, with in-store product demonstrations highlighting its unique features. 
Bangur Marble Cement incorporates GGBS, a steel manufacturing by-product, making it eco-friendly and highly durable while reducing the environmental footprint. Shree Cement is also adopting a digital-first approach to reach consumers, setting a new trend in the cement industry. 
This launch expands Bangur Cement’s premium lineup, which includes Jungrodhak, Rockstrong, Powermax, Magna, and Roofon. 
(Construction Week Online)  

Continue Reading

Concrete

Ramco Cements plans Rs 12 bn capex for FY26 and advances Rs 10 bn sale

Ramco Cements reported a profit after tax of Rs 3.25 billion.

Published

on

By

Shares



Ramco Cements has announced a capital expenditure (capex) plan of Rs 12 billion for the next fiscal year, maintaining its guidance for FY25. The company has raised Rs 4.43 billion this fiscal through the sale of non-core assets.

During the third quarter of the current fiscal, Ramco Cements incurred a capex of Rs 2.56 billion, bringing the total spending for the first nine months to Rs 8 billion. The company has set a target of monetizing Rs 10 billion worth of non-core assets and has realized Rs 4.43 billion so far, with an additional Rs 100 million received as advances for assets nearing finalization.

The funds generated from these asset sales have been utilised to reduce debt, bringing the company’s net debt to Rs 46.16 billion as of December 31, 2024. In Q3FY25 alone, debt reduction amounted to Rs 4.87 billion.

Ramco Cements remains on course to achieve a cement production capacity of 30 MTPA by March 2026. This expansion includes the commissioning of a second production line in Kolimigundla, capacity enhancements through de-bottlenecking, and additional grinding facilities. A railway siding at Kolimigundla is scheduled for commissioning in March 2025.

The company is also investing in sustainable energy initiatives, with a 10 MW Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) at RR Nagar expected to be operational by June 2025 and a 15 MW WHRS unit at Kolimigundla set to be commissioned alongside Kiln Line-2 by March 2026. A new construction chemicals unit in Odisha is expected to be ready before March 2025. Land acquisition for a greenfield project in Karnataka has progressed, with 53 per cent of mining land and 13 per cent of factory land secured.

For Q3FY25, Ramco Cements reported a profit after tax of Rs 3.25 billion, significantly higher than Rs 930 million in the previous year, primarily due to an exceptional income of Rs 3.29 billion from asset sales. Net revenue declined by 6 per cent year-on-year to Rs 19.88 billion due to a 14 per cent drop in cement prices.

Total sales volume, including construction chemicals, increased by 9 per cent to 4.37 million tonne. Cement capacity utilization saw a slight improvement to 75 per cent in Q3FY25 from 74 per cent in Q3FY24. However, EBITDA declined by 28 per cent to Rs 2.91 billion due to weaker cement prices, despite cost reductions from lower fuel prices and improved manufacturing efficiency.

News source: Hindu Businessline

Continue Reading

Trending News

This will close in 5 seconds

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

 

Don't miss out on valuable insights and opportunities to connect with like minded professionals.

 


    This will close in 0 seconds