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Drones can ferry small batches of cement

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Ankit Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO, Skye Air, highlights the advantages of drone deliveries for the cement industry to improve the overall operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the supply chain.

What is the environmental impact that drone deliveries can create?
Drone deliveries have the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact compared to conventional delivery methods. By utilising drones, the carbon footprint of last-mile delivery can be slashed by eliminating the need for vehicles and vans, which emit greenhouse gases during transport. In fact, studies have shown that drone deliveries can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional delivery methods. Additionally, drones provide more direct routes, minimising congestion and further lowering emissions.
Furthermore, Skye Air’s implementation of drone technology can contribute to a substantial decrease in air pollution. Traditional delivery vehicles, powered by fossil fuels, contribute significantly to air pollution, whereas drones operate on cleaner energy sources, such as electricity. As a result, the adoption of drone technology by Skye Air could lead to a notable reduction in harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere.
It’s worth noting that Skye Air is committed to continuous monitoring and optimisation of its operations to ensure that the environmental benefits of drone delivery are maximised. Through data-driven analysis and innovative strategies, Skye Air aims to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of its drone delivery services.
In conclusion, while drone deliveries offer significant environmental benefits, rigorous management and innovation are essential to mitigate any potential negative effects and ensure the long-term viability of drone delivery operations.

Tell us about the efficiency created by drone delivery systems.
Skye Air has spearheaded a paradigm shift in the logistics industry by substantially augmenting efficiency in their drone deliveries. Drones can help circumvent traditional road networks, bypass traffic congestion and surmount logistical impediments, facilitating expeditious and direct transportation of goods. This heightened efficiency is particularly conspicuous in exigent circumstances, such as the delivery of medical supplies to remote regions or the expeditious fulfillment of urgent orders. By harnessing the capabilities of drones, Skye Air optimises delivery routes, curtails fuel consumption, and mitigates the overall operational costs inherent in conventional delivery methodologies.
Indeed, empirical data underscores the efficacy of drone deliveries, showcasing a significant reduction in delivery times by up to 50 per cent compared to traditional methods. Moreover, drone deliveries have been shown to minimise fuel usage by approximately 60 per cent, contributing to substantial environmental conservation efforts.
Furthermore, the automation of the delivery process not only expedites operations but also bolsters efficiency, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction rates. With streamlined processes and expedited turnaround times, Skye Air sets a new standard for excellence in the logistics domain.

What is the role of digitalisation and technology in your delivery and transport system?
In Skye Air, digitalisation and technology serve as pivotal catalysts in revolutionising our delivery and transport system. Through the integration of cutting-edge drone technology like Skye UTM, we have established a streamlined and efficient delivery process. Our drones are equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and sensors, enabling precise and secure delivery routes. Skye UTM stands as the most advanced and indigenised Aerial Traffic Management platform, designed to furnish situational awareness, autonomous navigation, risk assessment, and traffic management to all drone and aerial mobility operators across the airspace. Skye UTM has already facilitated successful BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flights. The Skye UTM captures over 255+ parameters of UAV movements, storing them in its ‘Black box’, which comprises a published systematic description of the entire flight. This platform offers the inaugural 3-Dimensional view of the drone airspace, alongside operations and regulations mapping servers, furnishing the latest airspace status, verified paths, and exhibiting real-time UAV movements. Furthermore, our digital platforms empower customers to seamlessly place orders and track their deliveries in real-time. This digitalisation not only amplifies the velocity and precision of our deliveries but also ensures transparency and accountability throughout the entire process.

Can drone deliveries be incorporated with the cement industry in the future?
In the foreseeable future, the incorporation of drone deliveries holds promise for integration within the cement industry, presenting efficient and swift transportation solutions for materials. The sophisticated drone technology prevalent in logistics stands poised to collaborate seamlessly with cement companies, optimising their supply chain operations. Drones can ferry small batches of cement or other construction materials to remote or challenging-to-access locations, thereby diminishing reliance on conventional transportation modes such as trucks and mitigating logistical complexities. Through the strategic utilisation of drones, the cement industry stands to bolster its efficiency, curtail costs and elevate overall operational efficacy.

  • Kanika Mathur

Concrete

Cement Makers’ Margins To Fall Rs 50-75 Per Tonne Amid West Asia Conflict

Crisil Sees Margins Easing Despite Steady Demand

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Crisil said operating margins of Indian cement manufacturers are expected to decline by Rs 50-75 per tonne (t) this fiscal to Rs 925-950 per t due to higher input costs triggered by the West Asia conflict. The analysis covered 18 cement companies accounting for nearly 90 per cent of India’s domestic cement capacity and noted margins had improved sharply to around Rs 1,000 per t in fiscal 2026.

Crisil noted that the reduction would be driven mainly by higher power and fuel costs, which account for about 30 per cent of total costs, as petcoke and imported coal prices have surged amid geopolitical uncertainties. Freight costs, which account for about a quarter of total costs, are also expected to remain elevated because of higher diesel prices. The impact on profitability is likely to be more pronounced in the first half of the fiscal year before easing commodity prices moderate cost pressures later.

The rating agency said steady domestic demand and strong balance sheets should keep credit profiles stable despite the moderation in margins. Green energy currently accounts for 35-40 per cent of the sector’s total electricity consumption and is expected to partly cushion higher energy costs. Operating cash flows are likely to remain resilient, supported by projected 6-7 per cent growth in cement demand this fiscal.

Crisil highlighted that demand growth will be driven primarily by infrastructure spending, which meets about one-third of sector consumption, and by a nearly 18 per cent higher budgetary allocation for core ministries that should support project execution. Weaker rural housing demand amid pressure on agricultural incomes from a possible below-average monsoon may be offset by improved urban housing demand supported by favourable home-loan rates and a strong pipeline of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban projects. Ongoing capacity additions will keep capital expenditure elevated and may lift net debt to EBITDA to between 1.2 and 1.4 times from around 1.0 time last fiscal, though ratios are expected to remain healthy.

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Concrete

UltraTech Board Approves Rs 50 bn Fundraise Via NCDs

Company to issue half a million debentures for expansion plan

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UltraTech Cement’s board of directors has approved raising Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 bn) through non?convertible debentures issued in rupees.

The finance committee cleared a proposal to issue up to 500,000 fully paid, unsecured, listed, rated, redeemable, rupee?denominated, non?convertible, non?cumulative debentures of Rs 1 lakh each (Rs 0.1 mn each), aggregating to the Rs 5,000 crore programme.

As of June 2026 the firm reported net debt of Rs 15,875 crore (Rs 158.75 bn) and said its capacity expansion projects under execution are backed by capital expenditure of about Rs 17,000 crore (Rs 170 bn) over the next two to two?and?a?half years.

UltraTech spent Rs 9,500 crore (Rs 95 bn) on capital expenditure in financial year 2026 and in April the group crossed 200.1 mn tonnes per annum of domestic grey cement capacity and 205.5 mn tonnes per annum of global capacity.

The chief financial officer indicated the company would take consolidated capacity beyond 242 mn tonnes per annum, with grey cement capacity reaching 212.7 mn tonnes per annum by the end of financial year 2027. He noted the net debt?to?earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation ratio stood at 0.87 times as of June 2026 and the company was confident of ending financial year 2027 with the ratio below one time.

In the first quarter of financial year 2026?27 UltraTech’s net profit attributable to owners rose 16.8 per cent year?on?year to Rs 2,599.3 crore (Rs 25.993 bn) and revenue from operations increased 15.9 per cent to Rs 24,648.20 crore (Rs 246.482 bn). The board approval is expected to complement internal cash flows as the company advances its expansion programme.

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Concrete

Lokesh Lays Stone For Rs 31 Billion Cement Unit In Kadapa

Line-2 expansion to make Kadapa a major cement hub

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Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Line-2 expansion of Dalmia Bharat Cement at Chinnakomerla village in Mylavaram Mandal in Kadapa district. The project carries an investment of Rs 31 billion (bn) and is slated for completion by the third quarter of the financial year 2028. The expansion is intended to boost industrial growth and employment generation across the Rayalaseema region.

Once commissioned, the Kadapa facility will become Dalmia Bharat’s largest integrated cement manufacturing ecosystem in southern India, creating over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and opening new business avenues for regional micro, small and medium enterprises and transport operators. Lokesh said the expansion signalled growing corporate confidence in the state and reflected the practical ease of doing business that secured repeat investment.

He placed the project within the government’s wider economic targets and recalled the Yuvagalam padayatra commitment to generate two million (mn) jobs within five years, noting that the state would cultivate talent while industry created opportunities. Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s competitive pursuit of major manufacturing accounts, mentioning past successes and a personal initiative to engage global investors when persuading them to anchor expansion in the state.

The plant will leverage Kadapa’s abundant limestone reserves to scale production and sustainability. Clinker capacity is planned to rise from two point five million tonnes per annum (mn tpa) to six point one mn tpa, while overall cement output will increase from three point six mn tpa to nine point six mn tpa. The unit is designed to operate on over eighty per cent renewable energy and deploy waste heat recovery, zero liquid discharge, water recycling and advanced AI systems to optimise efficiency. Industries Minister TG Bharat, BC Welfare Minister S. Savitha and Jammalamadugu MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy attended the ceremony.

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