Concrete

Battling costs

Published

4 years ago

March 1, 2022

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Oil is within kissing distance of $120 per barrel as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues in intensity. Government budgets are disrupted and inflation is knocking on all doors. Despite international economic gyrations, the Indian cement industry’s crusade towards net zero continues at an unabated pace.
Individual players have taken a keen interest and assumed the onus of responsibility of utilising alternative fuel and raw materials as well as greener energy sources. In a promising move, the Government of India has launched the Green Hydrogen policy, which will definitely add to the country’s efforts for net zero carbon emissions by 2070, as it will impact high-on-carbon-emission industries such as the cement sector. The policy entails:
• Waiver of interstate transmission system (ISTS) charges for 25 years for projects commissioned before June 30, 2025.
• Access to renewable energy through State utilities with 30 days of banking facility.
• Priority access to connectivity with the ISTS network.
• Multiple modes for procuring RE for green hydrogen production.

The Hydrogen Policy should make it possible for companies like Reliance Industries to produce blue hydrogen at a ‘competitive cost’ of about $1.2 – $1.5 per kg as it repurposes its $4 billion gasification assets. Reliance will re-purpose a Rs 300 billion plant that currently converts petroleum coke into synthesis gas to produce blue hydrogen for $1.2 – $1.5 per kilo. Hydrogen is labelled blue whenever the carbon generated from steam reforming is captured and stored. Blue hydrogen is, therefore, sometimes referred to as carbon neutral as the emissions are not dispersed in the atmosphere.
Green hydrogen – also referred to as ‘clean hydrogen’ – is produced by using clean energy from renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to split water into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom through a process called electrolysis.
Reliance, which has set a net-zero carbon emission target for its businesses by 2035, is looking at blue hydrogen in the interim period to reduce the cost of green hydrogen. Fossil-based hydrogen costs about $1.80, and the cost of blue hydrogen is estimated at about $2.40 – $3 per kg.
Every discussion on green cement includes how to make optimum use of slag. There has been notable development on that front with the processing of slag to create Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS).The EDP data sets the global warming potential of GGBS at 60.21 kg CO2 equivalent, which is among the lowest in the industry. In an encouraging development, Tata Steel BSL has exported 9000 tonne of LD slag through the Dhamra Port Company to Bangladesh from its Odisha unit. The company has been involved in sustainable operations for its by-products, including 100 per cent recycling of fly ash, LD slag and blast furnace slag.
Cement has been in the news due to a 3-5 per cent month-on-month price increase in January across India, especially in the southern and eastern parts. Weak demand in the concluding months of 2021 made way for a spurt in demand and prices in January and February. The price jump is also attributed to the recent Russia-Ukraine crisis as it has led to a hike in energy, fuel and logistics costs. Road infrastructure, which has slowed down in current fiscal, is set for an acceleration with a target of 25,000 km next fiscal, and so is housing, as the Government has reiterated its commitment towards Housing for All by allocating `480 billion towards PM Awas Yojana. The challenge is the rising input costs of pet coke and coal amid oil price and logistics disruption. There is no room for cost inefficiency. The battle between growth in revenue and cost will sharpen in days to come.

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Shree Cement Targets Above Industry Volume Growth In FY27

Chairman says firm will favour organic expansion and higher dividends

Published

1 hour ago

June 16, 2026

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Shree Cement expects to outpace the industry in the financial year 2026-27 as it pursues organic expansion and pricing discipline following a recent investor conference. The chairman said the company has completed a pricing realignment and recovered volumes lost during that exercise. Management signalled a clear preference for internal investments rather than acquisitions to support growth.

The company reported that capacity additions and demand growth across core markets are expected to underpin stronger volume performance, with a target of growing volumes at around 1.1 times the industry growth rate. Cash levels are likely to decline as capital expenditure progresses and shareholder distributions increase, the chairman indicated. The board has prioritised higher dividends over a buyback as a means of reducing excess cash.

Shree Cement described a market shift towards value and affordability rather than a race to the lowest price, which links demand expansion more closely with pricing. Historically, prices have risen at around three per cent annually over long periods, the company noted, and while prices may increase faster this year because of cost pressures from geopolitical tensions, a material improvement in industry profitability is not anticipated. In North India, the company expects additional capacity to be absorbed as demand grows, estimating a requirement of roughly 10 million (mn) tonne (t) of incremental demand annually.

The next phase of expansion will focus on the north, west, east and northeast regions, with existing projects and planned capacities viewed as sufficient to meet future demand without pursuing acquisitions. Management said it has already regained lost volumes while sustaining higher prices and will continue to monitor regional opportunities, including a possible investment in West Bengal pending clarity on industrial policy. The company, which has a current market capitalisation of Rs 852,948.9 mn, has seen its shares lose more than 20 per cent over the past year.

Concrete

Ramco Cements’ Hard Worker Campaign Wins Seven Awards

Campaign earns honours for direction, editing and cinematography

Published

1 day ago

June 15, 2026

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The Hard Worker campaign by The Ramco Cements has secured seven honours at the Good Ads Matter Awards 2026, adding to its growing list of accolades and reinforcing its standing among the year’s most recognised advertising campaigns.

The awards were presented during the Good Ads Matter Awards Night 2026 held at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. The campaign received recognition across multiple categories, highlighting excellence in direction, editing, cinematography and storytelling.

Among the honours, the campaign won Silver in the Campaign of the Year – Direction category, while filmmaker Prakash Varma was named Director of the Year for the films Tortoise & Hare and Eco Plaster. Tortoise & Hare also received Silver awards for Best Editing and Best Colour Grading, along with a Bronze award for Best Cinematography. Eco Plaster earned Bronze awards in the Best Direction – Narrative and Best Direction – Humour categories.

Both films extended their award-winning run, with Eco Plaster being recognised for its narrative centred on water conservation through innovative construction solutions, while Tortoise & Hare was honoured for its storytelling and craft execution.

The Hard Worker campaign was built around the idea that hard work deserves recognition and respect. Through culturally rooted and emotionally engaging stories, the campaign has connected with consumers, engineers, masons and the wider construction community across the country.

Commenting on the achievement, A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO of The Ramco Cements Limited, said that the continued recognition across leading creative platforms reflects the company’s commitment to meaningful and authentic communication rooted in the values of the people it serves.

Balaji K Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, The Ramco Cements Limited, said the awards recognise the craftsmanship behind the storytelling, from direction and cinematography to editing and narrative execution.

Following recognition at both the Kyoorius Creative Awards and the Good Ads Matter Awards, the Hard Worker campaign continues to demonstrate the impact of purpose-driven storytelling combined with strong creative execution and consumer relevance.

Concrete

Cement Makers Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

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World Environment Day spotlight on innovation and circularity

On World Environment Day, the Indian cement industry reiterated its commitment to supporting India’s climate ambitions through sustainable manufacturing, resource efficiency and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) said the sector remains aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitments and is accelerating efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while supporting the country’s infrastructure and development agenda.

Parth Jindal, President, CMA and Managing Director, JSW Cement, said the industry is increasingly adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of alternative fuels and raw materials. He also highlighted the growing importance of circular economy practices, where industrial by-products and waste streams from one sector are utilised as resources in another.

“The Indian Cement Industry is aligned to the Government’s commitments on carbon mitigation and is accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy practices while actively exploring the potential of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical pathway for deep decarbonisation,” said Jindal.

He added that coprocessing industrial waste and by-products helps conserve natural resources, reduce disposal requirements and lower the environmental footprint across multiple sectors.

According to Jindal, sustainability is no longer limited to manufacturing processes but is increasingly influencing investment decisions, innovation strategies and long-term growth plans within the industry.

Echoing similar views, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA and Managing Director, JK Cement, said sustainable development extends beyond emissions reduction and must also focus on responsible resource utilisation and waste minimisation.

“Sustainability in the built environment cannot be measured by emissions alone. It is equally about how efficiently we use resources, how effectively we minimise waste and how responsibly we create the infrastructure that will serve future generations,” said Singhania.

He noted that the cement industry is advancing its sustainability agenda through greater resource efficiency, increased circularity, technological innovation and continuous improvements in manufacturing practices. As a key contributor to India’s infrastructure development, the sector has a critical role to play in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting India’s climate goals while delivering the materials required for resilient, durable and sustainable infrastructure.