UltraTech Cement’s Kukurdih Works becomes its first integrated unit to meet 100 per cent electricity needs through green energy every month.

Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

UltraTech Cement Limited, the world’s largest cement company outside China, has achieved a significant decarbonisation milestone, with its Kukurdih Cement Works integrated unit in Chhattisgarh meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through green energy every month since April 2026.

Commissioned in 2024, Kukurdih Cement Works has an installed grey cement capacity of 3.3 million tonnes per annum. The unit achieved this milestone through a combination of renewable power sourcing and Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS), which now collectively meet its entire electricity demand while ensuring operational reliability.

Since April 2026, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements. Five units, including Kukurdih, have exceeded 95 per cent green energy utilisation. The company is also progressively deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across its network to enable deeper renewable energy integration.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech has not invested in additional captive thermal power capacity for greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for over a decade.

As of Q1FY27, the company’s captive green energy capacity stood at 1,897 MW, comprising 1,463 MW of renewable energy capacity from solar, wind and hybrid sources, along with 434 MW of WHRS capacity. Under its RE100 commitment, UltraTech aims to increase the share of green power in its total energy mix to 85 per cent by 2030 and achieve 100 per cent by 2050.

UltraTech Cement Ltd, the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, is a $10-billion building solutions company and the largest cement producer globally by sales volume outside China. The company has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement/putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. It is a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the Net Zero Concrete roadmap announced by GCCA.

The Assam Cabinet has approved an investment of Rs. 110 bn by JK Lakshmi Cement for a clinker manufacturing unit and four associated cement grinding units in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision on 24 September 2026, along with approvals covering wetland restoration and industrial support.

The proposed cement investment is expected to generate around 2,000 direct jobs. The project forms part of the state government’s latest measures to attract manufacturing activity and strengthen industrial infrastructure. The Cabinet also approved a State Capital Investment Subsidy for eligible manufacturing units covered by the substantive provisions of the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme, or UNNATI, 2024.

The subsidy will apply to units that qualified under the scheme but were unable to secure registration by the extended deadline of 30 September 2026. The measure is intended to support eligible businesses that missed the registration process while continuing to meet the scheme’s substantive requirements.

The Cabinet also cleared an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project for the restoration and rehabilitation of at least 102 derelict community beels across Assam. The ADB loan component is Rs. 6.38 bn, while the Assam government’s contribution will be Rs. 1.59 bn.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved a rent-based or pro bono arrangement for constructing a laboratory and ancillary infrastructure for the Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The facility will be built at Ulubari in Guwahati, with the Agriculture Department coordinating with the Public Works Department (Buildings) to construct it according to designs and specifications provided by the board.

JSW Cement has received a show-cause notice proposing a Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand of Rs. 2.3 bn, along with applicable interest and a 10 per cent penalty, over an alleged incorrect classification of transactions. The notice was issued by the Additional Commissioner of Central Tax, Belagavi Audit Commissionerate, on September 24, 2026.

The proposed demand relates to the period from April 2022 to March 2024 and has been issued under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017. The company disclosed the notice in a filing with the stock exchanges and said the matter involved an alleged short payment of GST.

The proposed amount comprises Integrated GST (IGST) of Rs. 1.22 bn, Central GST (CGST) of Rs. 540.5 mn and State GST (SGST) of Rs. 540.5 mn. The department has also cited alleged contraventions of Sections 9, 37 and 39 of the CGST Act, with interest proposed under Section 50 and the penalty under Section 73.

JSW Cement said the financial impact of the notice would be limited to the proposed tax demand, applicable interest and penalty. However, it assessed that the matter would not have a material impact on the company. The cement manufacturer is preparing its reply to the show-cause notice.

The notice was issued to JSW Cement, which is part of the Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Group. The company reiterated that the total proposed GST demand stood at Rs. 2.3 bn, excluding the applicable interest and 10 per cent penalty, and that the proceedings remained at the show-cause stage.

Shares of JSW Cement ended at Rs. 115.65 on the BSE on Thursday, down Rs. 2.60, or 2.20 per cent, from the previous close. The stock movement came as the company disclosed the proposed tax demand and its intention to respond to the department’s notice.