Concrete

Cementing a Greener Future

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

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Udai Singh, Vice President – Power Systems, Greater India, Schneider Electric, discusses the collaborative efforts undertaken by the industry for sustainable manufacturing operations.

A s the second-largest cement producer worldwide, India is experiencing a surge in demand, driven by rapid infrastructure development and residential expansion. In response to the pressing climate change concerns, the country is taking proactive measures and aligning its progress with sustainable practices. With a clear objective of achieving a net-zero economy by 2070, the cement industry plays a pivotal role in this transformative journey, necessitating a shift towards sustainable cement manufacturing through robust decarbonisation strategies and collaborative endeavours.
The global cement industry accounts for 7-8 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. This is largely because cement production is a complex and highly energy-intensive process. The industry’s heavy reliance on coal for energy needs significantly contributes to elevated carbon emissions. This makes it critical for this industry to adopt a decarbonisation roadmap supported by technology, innovation and collaboration.

Collaboration for sustainability
Formulating a well-defined decarbonisation strategy in collaboration with expert consultants is crucial for cement companies to address operational challenges and identify key areas for emission reduction and energy efficiency. With a tailor-made decarbonisation roadmap, they can expedite the realisation of their emission reduction and energy efficiency targets. This approach involves benchmarking their facilities against industry peers on critical parameters, such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, adoption of renewable energy sources, minimising fossil fuel reliance and embracing sustainable practices. By diligently tracking their decarbonisation efforts through benchmarking, cement makers can gain valuable insights and knowledge, leading to better resource allocation, optimisation of energy-intensive processes and adoption of efficient practices for overall carbon reduction.
Also, considering the urgency to switch to renewable energy sources and reducing dependency on coal, the cement makers can use technology solutions with the help of technical sustainability experts to simulate the best mix of alternative fuels including biofuels, municipal waste, etc. Process Simulation can empower them to identify optimal combinations, reduce costs and gain flexibility in fuel choices, thereby minimising environmental impact and fortifying their resilience against market fluctuations and supply chain volatilities.
In addition, a decarbonisation strategy leveraging technological solutions not only enhances manufacturing efficiency but also extends to related operations. For instance, they can reduce idle hours of heavy earth-moving machinery to reduce energy demand and gain cost advantages. Moreover, deploying advanced digital solutions offers them better management and monitoring of the machinery with effective scheduling of equipment. Additionally, process optimisation and real-time dynamic simulations across various parameters within the facility lead to higher operational efficiency, reduced clinker to Cement ratio, reduced fuel and thermal energy consumption, predictive maintenance, and proactive issue detection of alternative fuels and raw material feed availability.

Beyond decarbonisation
While reducing carbon footprint is one of the primary objectives of sustainable cement manufacturing, cement manufacturers can gain a multitude of benefits from it. For instance, achieving sustainability in operations results in higher energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption. This massively lowers operational costs for cement companies and ultimately might result in reduction in prices of their end products, making them more competitive and resilient in the market.
Moreover, the surge in consumer awareness surrounding sustainable practices has elevated the significance of sustainable manufacturing. In today’s landscape, consumers are increasingly drawn to products with minimal environmental impact. Thus, by adopting sustainable practices, cement companies can align their offerings with consumer preferences, gaining a significant business advantage.
In addition to consumer preferences, fostering collaboration with technology partners paves the way for accelerated innovation and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies. This collaborative approach propels the cement industry towards greener production methods and reinforces its position at the forefront of the sustainability mission. By executing a robust decarbonisation strategy guided by collaborative efforts, the cement industry plays a pivotal role in supporting the transition towards a low-carbon future. The benefits of sustainable cement manufacturing extend well beyond reducing carbon emissions. Energy efficiency, cost savings, consumer appeal, and technological innovation all converge to enhance the industry’s overall environmental stewardship and competitiveness in the pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Udai Singh, Vice President – Power Systems, Greater India, Schneider Electric is a a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in sales, marketing, and operational management.

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Jammu Division Begins First Cement Rail Traffic to Anantnag

Cement Loading From Kathua for Anantnag to Begin on September 14

Published

2 days ago

September 21, 2026

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Jammu Railway Division has placed an indent for the first movement of cement by rail within the division, linking Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua Railway Station with Anantnag Railway Station. Loading for the consignment is scheduled to begin on September 14.

Concrete

Hard Worker Wins Three Honours at Kyoorius Design Awards

Ramco Cements’ brand secures Grand Prix and two Blue Elephant honours.

Published

2 days ago

September 21, 2026

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The Ramco Cements Limited’s construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has won three honours at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026, including the Grand Prix – Grey Elephant in the Design in Action category.

The brand also secured two Blue Elephant honours, one for Design in Action and another for Packaging, recognising the design approach behind its brand identity and packaging.

Launched in 2025, Hard Worker entered the construction chemicals segment with the brand promise, “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” Its visual identity uses animals and birds to represent product benefits. The camel represents the water-retention capability of Hard Worker Eco Plaster, while the cheetah represents the speed and performance of Hard Worker Block Fix.

The visual language has been extended across packaging, retail, communication, literature, digital platforms and other brand touchpoints. Hard Worker uses bold colours, distinctive animal illustrations and simple visual storytelling to communicate product benefits across markets and audiences, including construction workers and applicators.

“For Hard Worker, design was never an afterthought. It was fundamental to how we wanted to build the brand. In a category that is largely functional, we wanted to create a brand that people could recognise, understand and remember instantly. The Kyoorius recognition is a wonderful validation of this design-led approach,” said Mr. AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO, The Ramco Cements Limited.

Mr. Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements said “In a category where communication has traditionally been product-led and functional, we wanted Hard Worker to stand apart by making design an integral part of the brand experience. From the distinctive animal-led packaging to our communication across consumer and trade touchpoints, every element was designed to make the brand more memorable and the product benefits easier to understand.”

Within its first 12 months, Hard Worker crossed Rs 3.5 bn in sales. The latest recognition follows six honours secured by the brand’s campaign at the Kyoorius Creative Awards earlier in 2026, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix for its Eco Plaster film.

The Kyoorius Design Awards recognise outstanding design work in India’s visual communications sector across multiple categories and platforms. The 2026 awards were announced on 12 September in Goa.

The Ramco Cements Limited is part of the Ramco Group and operates across cement and allied building-material solutions. Hard Worker is its construction chemicals brand, offering solutions across key construction applications.

Concrete

Cement Firms to Invest Rs. 130 bn in Green Energy by FY28

Cement companies plan to expand clean energy capacity to 6 GW by FY28

Published

6 days ago

September 17, 2026

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India’s major cement companies are set to raise their clean energy capacity to 6 GW by March 2028 from around 4 GW at the end of March 2026, according to ratings agency ICRA. The planned expansion is expected to involve investments of Rs. 130 bn over the next two years.

The additional capacity could generate annual savings of Rs. 62 bn to Rs. 67 bn, resulting in an estimated payback period of 1.8 to 2.2 years. Cement is an emission-intensive industry, and leading producers have established net-zero roadmaps covering the next 15 to 20 years.

The calcination process accounts for 57 to 60 per cent of the sector’s total emissions, while fuel combustion contributes 27 to 30 per cent and electricity consumption accounts for 10 to 13 per cent. ICRA said the figures highlighted the need for a broad decarbonisation strategy involving green power, blended cement, alternative fuels and improvements in clinker efficiency.

Green energy is considered one of the most commercially attractive decarbonisation options because it can reduce emissions while lowering operating costs. Every 5 per cent increase in green power replacement can reduce power and fuel costs by Rs. 15 to Rs. 16 per tonne. A 25 per cent replacement level could therefore save Rs. 75 to Rs. 80 per tonne and expand operating margins by 140 to 160 basis points.

Cement producers are also assessing carbon capture, utilisation and storage, although high implementation costs, energy requirements and limited transport and storage infrastructure are expected to slow commercial adoption. The government has proposed Rs. 200 bn over five years to support deployment across key sectors. Meanwhile, companies are targeting thermal substitution rates of 10 to 15 per cent over the next three to five years, compared with the current industry level of around 6 per cent.