Concrete

We intend to use C&D waste as a raw material

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

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Neeraj Akhoury, Managing Director, Shree Cement, talks about their commitment to sustainability, advanced technology and quality assurance.

What are the various types of concrete mix manufactured by your organisation?
Shree Cement’s product, Bangur Concrete, introduces a range of specialised concrete solutions designed to meet the diverse applications and structural requirements of our customers. Our portfolio includes self-compacting concrete, temperature-controlled concrete, decorative concrete, fibre reinforced concrete, green concrete and high performance concrete.
Our application-specific concrete solutions help in timely completion of all projects, ensuring durable structures for every application in construction projects of all kinds.

Tell us about the key factors that make your concrete brand stand apart from its competitors in the industry.
Bangur Concrete is focused on setting up its own capex state-of-the-art manufacturing units equipped with modern machinery and advanced technology, backed by our world class cement manufacturing units. These units will be equipped to manufacture all types of special concrete, having advanced testing facilities, experienced best-in-industry technical manpower and digitised solutions. One of our USPs is our focus on providing sustainable green solutions to our customers by keeping our plants environmentally friendly and reducing carbon footprint through optimised mix designs and the use of best mineral admixtures.

Which type of concrete mix from your organisation is the revenue driver?
We will be producing concrete ranging from M5 to M80 grades, and special products as well. Typically, a majority of revenue comes from M20-M30 grade of concrete, which is being
used in most of the construction including IHBs.

Tell us about the key technologies used in the manufacturing process of your ready-mix concrete?
We have equipped our plants with various technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability. These include concrete recycling plants for reusing waste concrete, dust filters for absorbing dust at silos for reuse, vehicle tracking systems for transparent service, quality management systems for quality assurance, advanced batching systems for accuracy in customer orders and filter press for water reuse.

What is the ratio of M-Sand or manufactured sand used in your concrete mix?
We plan to use ~29 per cent manufactured sand in our concrete mix.

How do you incorporate sustainability in your products?
We plan to make ~85 per cent of Bangur concrete using flyash and GGBS, two environmentally sustainable choices which emit less carbon dioxide. Additionally, we intend to use Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste as a raw material in our concrete, addressing environmental issues related to its disposal.

What are the major challenges faced by your concrete brands from manufacturing to delivering stages?
Major challenges that we face include traffic restrictions, space constraints for setting up plants in proximity to the city, changing construction schedules (such as night pours), meeting strict supply windows and navigating changing government norms like NGT ban in Delhi NCR. Additionally, the longer distance between RMC plants and major development areas due to unavailability of industrial lands poses another challenge. However, we have an excellent team in place who are well positioned to find sustainable and logical solutions to challenges that come our way.

What does the near future hold for the ready mix concrete vertical of your organisation?
One of the biggest contributions to our nation’s economy comes from the construction industry where concrete plays a very important part. Ready mix concrete (RMC) is crucial for speedy construction with consistent quality assurance. In India, RMC accounts for 20 per cent of construction consumption, whereas in developing nations it is as high as 75 per cent. We are optimistic that India will soon bridge this gap, boosting the country’s growth and development.
Shree Cement is one of India’s leading cement manufacturers. Foraying into the RMC business will propel us forward in our journey to becoming a multi-product company poised to play a significant role in shaping our country’s vision of having world class infrastructure across sectors like airports, ports, metro, roads, railways, etc. Shree Cement will set up ~100 Bangur concrete plants in the next three years, generating ~3000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. We will be operating in ~50 cities to serve our customers in various segments.

Kanika Mathur

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Concrete

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

iFOREST finds efficiency gains alongside water and safety concerns

Published

1 day ago

November 2, 2026

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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.

Concrete

Ambuja Cements Expects Volume Growth to Outpace Industry in H2

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

Published

1 day ago

November 2, 2026

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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.

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.

Published

3 days ago

October 31, 2026

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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.