Concrete

Many industries have limited options to decarbonise

Published

3 years ago

October 13, 2022

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In the light of the recent announcement by NTPC of using Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology, Prateek Bumb, Co-Founder & CTO, Carbon Clean Solutions Limited, discusses their technology and its impact on industrial decarbonisation.

Tell us about the design and carbon capture power of the NTPC Power Plant by Carbon Clean.
The carbon capture plant is designed to capture 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per day, from the flue gas of Unit-13 of the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station. The CO2 will eventually be combined with hydrogen to produce 10 tonnes per day of methanol through a catalytic hydrogenation process.
Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology is being used for this demonstration project, which is the first step toward decarbonising the power plant. The objectives of the project are to review the economics, design optimisation and waste heat utilisation, in order to further reduce the overall cost of carbon capture and utilisation. Evidence suggests that it will be both feasible and cost-effective, by using our carbon capture technology – CDRMaxTM.

What is the key technology backing the power plant?
Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology can be used with point source gases that contain CO2 concentrations between 3 per cent and 25 per cent by volume and produces CO2 with purities greater than 99 per cent, which can then be sold, reused or sequestered.
The CDRMax™ process uses Carbon Clean’s proprietary solvent, process equipment design, and advanced heat integration to significantly reduce both capital and operating costs. Due to an extremely low rate of corrosion, smaller equipment, and other improvements, CDRMax™ has been proven to provide a 20 per cent CapEx reduction compared to other available solutions. Thanks to lower heat and energy demand, CDRMax™ reduces OpEx by 30 per cent to 40 per cent compared to other available carbon capture solutions.

Tell us about the disposal of the captured carbon.
Carbon utilisation or storage at industrial plants is determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, the carbon captured at the St Fergus Gas plant will be transported and permanently stored offshore, as part of the Acorn Project. Meanwhile, in a project with Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited, India, the captured carbon is converted to soda ash and sold to Unilever, which uses it to manufacture cleaning products.

What impact is Carbon Clean planning to make on industrial decarbonisation?
Heavy industry accounts for around 30 per cent of global carbon emissions. Many industries – such as cement, steel, and refineries – have limited options to decarbonise. Point source carbon capture offers these industries a means of tackling their emissions and it is available now.
Carbon Clean is leading innovation in point source carbon capture and addressing the barriers to mass deployment, which have mainly been the cost and space requirements to install the technology.
Our latest fully modular carbon capture solution, CycloneCC, overcomes these barriers. CycloneCC has a footprint that is up to 50 per cent smaller than conventional carbon capture units and it will be deployable in less than eight weeks. It also has the potential to reduce CapEx and OpEx by up to 50 per cent and drive down the cost of carbon capture to $30/tonne on average, which would make the economic case for carbon capture undeniable.
This latest innovation, alongside Carbon Clean’s recent funding round, puts the company on track to deliver industrial decarbonisation on a gigatonne scale by the mid-2030s.

How do you picture your contribution to the Indian industrial economy›s goal to reach net zero by 2070?
Outside of the project with NTCP, Carbon Clean is working with Tata Steel and Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertilizers in India. We also have a joint venture with Veolia – Veolia Carbon Clean – that is committed to reducing industrial carbon dioxide emissions and helping India achieve its climate goals through the development of a series of carbon capture and compressed biogas (CBG) projects.
Looking forward, achieving net zero in India, will require a collaborative effort between hard-to-abate sectors, government and technology providers, such as Carbon Clean.

–Kanika Mathur

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Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

Published

1 day ago

January 31, 2026

admin

Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

To read the full article Click Here

Concrete

JK Cement Commissions 3 MTPA Buxar Plant, Crosses 31 MTPA

Company becomes India’s fifth-largest grey cement producer

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

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JK Cement has commissioned its new 3 MTPA grey cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, taking the company’s total installed capacity to 31.26 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and moving it past the 30 MTPA milestone. With this addition, JK Cement now ranks among the top five grey cement manufacturers in India, strengthening its national presence.

Commenting on the development, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director, JK Cement, said, “Crossing 31 MTPA is a significant turning point in JK Cement’s expansion and demonstrates the scale, resilience, and aspirations of our company. In addition to making a significant contribution to Bihar’s development vision, the commissioning of our Buxar plant represents a strategic step towards expanding our national footprint. We are committed to developing top-notch manufacturing capabilities that boost India’s infrastructure development and generate long-term benefits for local communities.”

Spread across 100 acres, the Buxar plant is located on the Patna–Buxar highway, enabling efficient distribution across Bihar and neighbouring regions. While JK Cement entered the Bihar market last year through supplies from its Prayagraj plant, the new facility will allow local manufacturing and deliveries within 24 hours across the state.

Mr Madhavkrishna Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement, said, “JK Cement is now among India’s top five producers of grey cement after the Buxar plant commissioning. Our capacity to serve Bihar locally, more effectively, and on a larger scale is strengthened by this facility. Although we had already entered the Bihar market last year using Prayagraj supplies, local manufacturing now enables us to be nearer to our clients and significantly raise service standards throughout the state. Buxar places us at the center of this chance to promote sustainable growth for both the company and the region in Bihar, a high-growth market with strong infrastructure momentum.”

The project has involved an investment of Rs 5 billion. Commercial production began on 29 January 2026, following construction commencement in March 2025. The company said the plant is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment and support ancillary industrial development in the region.

Concrete

JK Cement Crosses 31 MTPA Capacity with Commissioning of Buxar Plant in Bihar

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

admin

JK Cement has commissioned a 3 MTPA Grey Cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, taking its total capacity to 31.26 MTPA and placing it among India’s top five grey cement producers. The ₹500 crore investment strengthens the company’s national footprint while supporting Bihar’s infrastructure growth and local economic development.

JK Cement Ltd., one of India’s leading cement manufacturers, has announced the commissioning of its new state-of-the-art Grey Cement plant in Buxar, Bihar, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. With the commissioning of this facility, JK Cement’s total production capacity has increased to 31.26 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), enabling the company to cross the 30 MTPA threshold.

This expansion positions JK Cement among the top five Grey Cement manufacturers in India, strengthening its national footprint and reinforcing its long-term growth strategy.

Commenting on the strategic achievement, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director, JK Cement, said, “Crossing 31 MTPA is a significant turning point in JK Cement’s expansion and demonstrates the scale, resilience, and aspirations of our company. In addition to making a significant contribution to Bihar’s development vision, the commissioning of our Buxar plant represents a strategic step towards expanding our national footprint. We are committed to developing top-notch manufacturing capabilities that boost India’s infrastructure development and generate long-term benefits for local communities.”

The Buxar plant has a capacity of 3 MTPA and is spread across 100 acres. Strategically located on the Patna–Buxar highway, the facility enables faster and more efficient distribution across Bihar and adjoining regions. While JK Cement entered the Bihar market last year through supplies from its Prayagraj plant, the Buxar facility will now allow the company to serve the state locally, with deliveries possible within 24 hours across Bihar.

Sharing his views on the expansion, Madhavkrishna Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement, said, “JK Cement is now among India’s top five producers of grey cement after the Buxar plant commissioning. Our capacity to serve Bihar locally, more effectively, and on a larger scale is strengthened by this facility. Although we had already entered the Bihar market last year using Prayagraj supplies, local manufacturing now enables us to be nearer to our clients and significantly raise service standards throughout the state. Buxar places us at the center of this chance to promote sustainable growth for both the company and the region in Bihar, a high-growth market with strong infrastructure momentum.”

The new facility represents a strategic step in supporting Bihar’s development vision by ensuring faster access to superior quality cement for infrastructure, housing, and commercial projects. JK Cement has invested approximately ₹500 crore in the project. Construction began in March 2025, and commercial production commenced on January 29, 2026.

In addition to strengthening JK Cement’s regional presence, the Buxar plant is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities and attract ancillary industries, thereby contributing to the local economy and the broader industrial ecosystem.