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Concrete Through the Lens

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The Concrete in Life Photography Contest 2024-25 by Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) showcased artistic entries, capturing the versatility and beauty of concrete in various settings worldwide.

The annual Concrete in Life Photography Contest 2024/25, organised by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), has once again showcased the artistic and functional significance of concrete in daily life. This prestigious global competition attracted over 20,000 entries from professional photographers and amateur smartphone users.
The title of Concrete in Life Photo of the Year 2024-25 was awarded to Henrik Hagerup for his remarkable image taken at Venice Beach Skatepark, Los Angeles, USA. Inspired by the historic 1970s skate culture that repurposed abandoned swimming pools, the image encapsulates the dynamic interplay between concrete and human creativity. As the grand prize winner, Hagerup received a monetary award of $10,000.
Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive, GCCA, who was part of the judging panel, emphasised the competition’s role in highlighting concrete’s essential contributions to infrastructure, architecture and daily life. He noted that this year’s submissions were among the most impressive in the competition’s six-year history, reflecting concrete’s role in shaping urban and rural landscapes. The competition serves as a platform for photographers worldwide to showcase concrete’s aesthetic and functional dimensions.
Hagerup expressed his appreciation for the recognition, stating that his image symbolises how concrete, when integrated with creativity and passion, fosters social connections and opportunities. He emphasised its significance beyond skateparks, extending to communities globally.
The submissions received represented every continent and captured a wide array of concrete applications, from towering skyscrapers and transportation networks to sea defences, bridges and community structures. Many images also depicted intimate human interactions in playgrounds, villages and contemporary architectural designs, illustrating the material’s impact on everyday life.

In addition to the overall winner, the competition recognised four category winners, each awarded $2,500:

  • Urban Concrete: Urban Flow by Anvar Sadath TA (Dubai, UAE), featuring the iconic Burj Khalifa.
  • Concrete Infrastructure: Structure as Aesthetics by Wentao Guo (Washington, D.C., USA), highlighting a subway station.
  • Concrete in Daily Life: Bedok Jetty by Wellington Kuswanto (Singapore), emphasiding the material’s role in everyday settings.
  • Beauty and Design: Broken Building by Artemio Layno (Amsterdam, Netherlands), showcasing an artistic perspective on concrete structures.

The People’s Vote Award, determined through a public voting process, was presented to Mohamed Rafi for his image Fluttering Through Life, taken in Pondicherry, India. Rafi received a cash prize of $5,000.

Diane Hoskins, Global Co-Chair of Gensler, a leading design and architecture firm, served as a competition judge and underscored the importance of sustainable concrete practices. She highlighted that while concrete remains a fundamental element in modern infrastructure, ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint are crucial. The competition not only celebrates concrete’s architectural and functional strengths but also encourages industry innovations aimed at sustainability.

PEOPLE’S VOTE – WINNER
Fluttering Through Life by Mohamed Rafi Pondicherry, India
To me, it symbolises resilience, unseen beauty,and how our surroundings shape us in ways we don’t always realise. Street photography is about finding meaning in fleeting moments, and I’m thrilled that this image resonated with so many people.”

URBAN CONCRETE – WINNER
Urban Flow by Anvar Sadath TA Dubai, UAE
“My winning photograph captures the dynamic relationship between concrete structures and the vibrant cityscape, reflecting how concrete shapes our urban experiences. This recognition reinforces my passion for storytelling through photography, and I hope my image inspires others to find beauty in the everyday structures that define our cities.”

OVERAL – WINNER
Venice Beach Skating by Henrik Hagerup Venice Beach, Los Angeles, USA
“My image is a tribute to the way concrete, when embraced by creativity and passion, fosters connection, dreams, and boundless potential not just in skate parks, but in communities across the world.”

CONCRETE INFRASTRUCTURE – WINNER
Structure as Aesthetics by Wentao Guo Washington D.C. USA
“I was captivated by the moment when the transience of transportation runs into the permanence of concrete. Its obscurity becomes its greatest presence: its functionality, its aesthetic and its enduringness. Concrete is such an essential part of our lives and it constructs so many characters of our built environment.”

CONCRETE IN DAILY LIFE – WINNER
Daily Life in Bedok Jetty by Wellington Kuswanto Bedok Jetty, Singapore
“Bedok Jetty holds a special place for me, as I cycle and hang out there every weekend. It inspired me to submit the image of this particular place for the competition, as it showcases a public space made of concrete structure that is actively used by many people engaging in various activities as part of their daily lives.”

CONCRETE BEAUTY AND DESIGN – WINNER
Broken Building by Artemio Layno Amsterdam, Netherlands
“I took the photo at Amsterdam, Netherlands and I was amazed how creative and modern the design of the building is, it looks like it was cut-out and separated in the middle of the main structure, the design is created by a large number of terraces. Concrete is not just used as a necessity in creating structures but it can also be used to showcase artistic works that are amazingly beautiful.”

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication 

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement 

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing. 

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities. 

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations. 

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events. 

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders. 

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem. 

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution. 

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Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, 
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

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Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.

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