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Towards a Green World

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JSW is a prominent cement producer. The company is also adopting various means to become environmentally friendly, and is now marketing slag as a product, says Lopamudra Sengupta – VP, Technical, JSW Cement.

Slag is a byproduct from steel plants, which is obtained from blast furnaces, during the extraction of iron from iron ore. The process of granulating of the slag involves cooling of molten slag through high-pressure water jets. This rapidly quenches the slag and forms granular particles. The resulting granular material comprises around 95 per cent non-crystalline calcium-alumino silicates. The granulated slag is further processed by drying and then grinding in a vertical roller mill or rotating ball mill to a very fine powder, which is called Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag or GGBS. The benefits, application and performance of GGBS are same as that of PSC. In case of PSC, predetermined dosage of GGBS is added, whereas GGBS separately combined with OPC, offers the flexibility of using any particular dosage depending on the choice of the user.

Some of the major advantages of GGBS concrete, as compared to pure OPC concrete or fly ash based concrete are given below:

  • Reduced thermal cracks due to lower heat of hydration;
  • Reduced shrinkage cracks;
  • Improved workability and smooth finish;
  • Improved cohesion;
  • Better resistance against chemicals such as chlorides, sulphates and carbon dioxide;
  • Higher long-term strength;
  • Improved durability;

JSW GGBS also meets the requirements of IS: 12089-1989. It is also an eco-friendly green product. JSW GGBS can be used as a partial replacement to OPC cement in concrete production at RMC batching plants and site batching plants.

JSW Portland Slag Cement (PSC)
JSW PSC is a blended cement, wherein some portion of OPC is replaced with GGBFS, to make the structures long lasting and durable. GGBFS present in PSC helps in secondary hydration, producing more C-S-H gel in the system for improved performance of concrete.

PSC can be used in all types of civil engineering works GCo in both structural and non-structural applications. In fact, it has got a wide spectrum of applications as compared to OPC. OPC is not suitable for works such as mass concrete, industrial structures, marine structures, effluent and sewage treatment plants. PSC is an ideal cement in these works, thus making it a perfect all-purpose cement.

PSC is also a sustainable material. As production of PSC ensures the conservation of natural resource (limestone), generates savings in energy in the production process and limits the emission of carbon dioxide, it is regarded as an eco-friendly cement or green cement.

The properties of PSC have been specified by BIS in IS: 455-2015. CII – IGBC has certified JSW PSC as a green product.

The way ahead
The usage of blended products (PSC & GGBS) ensures a pollution-free environment, and ensures no adverse impacts on the health of nearby communities. Utilisation of slag and other by-products minimises the burden on landfills and reduces virgin material usage, fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse emission reductions. Hence, it has a direct contribution to reversing the effects of global warming and climate change. The products of granulated slag are regarded as environment friendly and durable materials that can protect the environment by limiting the exploitation of natural resources and reducing the amount of energy consumed in the mining of natural resources, helping in sustainable development.

About the author
Lopamudra Sengupta,
is VP, Technical, JSW Cement.

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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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